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    The Taco Connection

    4.8 (203 reviews)
    ModerateTacos
    Open • 10:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago
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    THE TACO CONNECTION ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - The Taco Connection

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    Plenty of seating
    Glenn J.

    Spacious and comfortable dining room with sleek and clean decor. Nice casual place to hangout, have some tacos & beer. Unique selection of meats that include traditional asada, pollo, chorizo but also unique cuts like tripas (intestines) and chuletas (pork chops) all expertly prepared. Beyond the standard tacos and burritos, they also offer quesadillas, mulitas, vampiros chorreadas and torta. Service very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. This is a must go to. The burritos are huge.

    Asada Loaded fries
    Juice B.

    Service was crazy good, food was amazing too. If you like spicy food make sure to get yourself that habanero sauce .

    Sean K.

    So, before leaving my review, I wanted to try TC one more time. I wanted to make sure I'm being fair in my assessment, because there's an abundance of taqueria's in Santa Ana. My cousin recommended it to me and said they were better than Los Cholos. I said no way! Way! These tacos are moist and flavorful. They use local vendors for their tortillas. You actually have to cook the tortillas. Small, thin and have that just made taste. I like these corn tortillas because it gives you a better meat to tortilla ratio. I had the asada, pollo and chueleta (pork but not al pastor). All tacos come with cabbage, cilantro, RED onion and their respective salsa. I began a conversation with Charles about tacos and he asked me if I ever had a Chorreadas. I saw it on there advertisement and was going to have one on my next visit. He said no, sit down, I'd like for you and your wife try it. We said we were really full but he insisted. It was on the house, how can i say no. It was kind of like a mini tostada. Meat, cheese, veggies, salsa and a special spread. My wife took a bite and she kind of perked up and said, " you have to try this". She handed it to me and I took a bit. And another bit and another. I not sure what that spread is but it had me hooked. My wife and I talked about it hours after. She even stated she'd go back tomorrow. My wife also had the ribeye taco. Same moist and tasty. TC is located in the Dunkin Donuts plaza. Basic ambiance with plenty of seating. Fast and friendly service. They also won a taco taste competition during Taco Week. IMO, a must try and if you do, try the Chorreadas! You won't be disappointed.

    Tacos
    Kevin C.

    This is a great place to go for tacos and quesadillas. Very affordable prices compared to the other places in the area. Great quality and flavor. Service was good. As for ambiance it's just a small place with some tables and TVs on the walls. Would recommend if you are looking for a casual place to go for delicious tacos.

    The pickiest eaters on Earth approve of Taco Connection
    Vanessa P.

    The owners are so friendly and personable! Our picky eaters didn't know how to appreciate the strawberry in the horchata but Valeria & I LOVED IT love to see people united thru delicious food. Def recommend the Taco Connection

    Pork (chuleta) chorreada. This was so flavorful! The pork has a nice char on it yet remains moist. Perfectly cooked!
    V V.

    My family was in Garden Grove running errands and usually when we are here we take advantage of being near Little Saigon and grab Vietnamese food. However, my son and I were craving Mexican food and I'm sure glad we did this day. A quick search on Yelp and Taco Connection came up, with lots of reviews and high ratings so we decided to check it out. Upon walking in, we were greeted by a super friendly gentleman that answered all of our questions and even let us sample their chuletas (pork). The pork was tender, perfectly charred while remaining moist which is very hard to do with pork. We ultimately decided to go with asada (burrito for me and torta for my son). I also added tried their ribeye taco and chorreada chuletas. Asada Burritio: 10/10 excellent flavor, beef was moist and tender. Habanero sauce perfectly compliment it! Asada Torta: 10/10 (per my son). He said "it tasted delicious". Ribeye Taco: 8/10-only because I realized that ribeye is great by itself but doesn't pair well in a taco. The taco itself was perfect (corn tortillas were cooked in a way that balanced softness and crispiness). I wish I had gone with asada here and I'm sure it would've been 10/10. Chorreada Chuletas: 9/10: The flavors within this dish are so good! The only reason this dish is not 10/10 for me is likely personal--I'm just not accustomed to having pork cooked this way in anything other than rice and I almost water to ask for white rice to balance the intense flavor of the chuleta lol. The dining area was very clean with plenty of seating. It was a hot day and they had the place cooled to a very comfortable temperature. 10/10 I would recommend this place if you're looking for great Mexican food with awesome service. It's completely worth it.

    Chorriada
    Adriana M.

    We came across this place on our way back from getting boba. So happy we did because not only was the customer service great but the food was so good!!!!! The tacos were perfect in flavor and the habanero sauce and avocado sauce were on point! They complement the tacos greatly!! We also got a chorriada which is a tostada with melted cheese on it and meat! I never had tried anything like that and it was great!!! So much seating with great Mexican music playing! Will definitely be coming back to try more items off the menu!!!

    Beverages
    Jenesa B.

    If I could rate this food spit more than 5 stars, I would. A family member told me about this spot and we all went to dinner together. There was 3 total on my party. The establishment shared the area with other small businesses, but I especially liked how bright the sign was so we could find the reactor ant easier. Coming in, it was very clean, they had really good Lyon music playing and we were greeted by one of the employees. There was no one inside the restaurant. We did arrive about 8:30pm and still the restaurant was super clean. The employees we spoke to were all very professional and we shared laughs and are knowledgable about the menu. We all ordered something different. Their tacos de asada and pollo were so delicious! The tacos are medium sized. We got full with just two. My other family member, who had gone before, ordered this tostada item called Chorreada with pork. One of the employees also brought out another Chorreada but with carne asada. With this item, you are able to choose your meat. It was delicious!!! The salsas it comes with taste delicious, but definitely try their habanero salsa. Spicy but man it was tasty! They have several Aguas Frescas that are made in house. Oh my goodness!! Refreshing most definitely! I had ordered their Cucumber lemonade and my family member ordered the Jamaica (Hibiscus). Very refreshing. One of the employees said to come next time and try their Agua de Horchata (rice milk natural water). It is one of their popular drinks, which if you see in the photo I took it away definitely sold out. This is a great restaurant to come with family and friends. The Maximum Room Capacity is 49 persons, so do what you will with that info when you're thinking about how many people you're inviting. They also do catering, to which myself and my other family members took business cards to promote their food. Wow! I can't wait to come back and try other food items and their Aguas Frescas. I may live in Orange now, but Santa Ana is my hometown and food spots like this one here The Taco Connection make me proud of the town I came from. They get down for real!

    chuletas, asada, and ribeye tacos
    Emi O.

    Loved trying this place for the first time! I tried the chuletas ($3), asada ($3), and ribeye ($6) tacos and they were all super good. I would pick chuletas as my top choice and then the asada. I've never actually heard of chuletas before but I'm glad I tried it. It's pork but pretty different from al pastor. Both the chuletas and asada had great char and flavor. The ribeye was noticeably more tender than the asada so if you want a better cut of beef, definitely try the ribeye. The workers were very attentive and friendly. They checked in with us and made sure we liked our food and even gave us samples of their homemade drinks like horchata. Overall great experience in terms of food and service. Will be back for sure!

    Asada, Pollo, and Chuletas Tacos
    Tina H.

    Tried this spot for their $2 tacos and $10 quesadillas during SoCal Taco Week! The tacos come in a few options--Asada, Pollo, and Chuletas--and each one had solid flavor. The asada was nicely seasoned, the pollo was juicy, and the chuletas had a good smoky taste. The quesadilla was filling and packed with meat and cheese--perfect if you're extra hungry. If you're craving simple, tasty tacos without spending much, this place is worth checking out.

    St240Jo C.

    I came here because I was craving tacos and the Yelp reviews looked solid... But honestly--it wasn't the tacos that made me love this place. It was the **chorreadas**. I had never tried them before, and one of the workers (super friendly, by the way) recommended it and said it was the best. I was thinking... *how good can it really be?* I was wrong. I got it with **chuleta**, and WOW--this is hands down some of the best meat I've had. Perfectly marinated, full of flavor, the salsa balance was on point, and that crispy chorreada texture just brought everything together. Unreal. This is the kind of meat I wish all tacos had. I also got the asada fries and two tacos with chuleta--they were good, but I'd definitely go back just for the chorreadas. The pineapple drink was another highlight for me. I was impressed and immediately knew I'd be ordering that again. I'm definitely bringing my family back just for this. If you haven't tried it yet--no joke, it's a must.

    Linda L.

    Late tonight I stopped by The Taco Connection craving horchata, only to find out they had just run out. The owner, Charlie, couldn't have been kinder! He offered me a similar drink called barley water instead, and even told me that if I let him know ahead next time, he'd make sure I got my horchata fix. That kind of thoughtfulness really stood out. I ordered the pastor tacos, which were absolutely delicious! Flavorful, fresh, and exactly what I needed. To top it off, Charlie even surprised me with a free pork taco, which was such a nice touch. It's customer service like this that keeps people coming back. Between the great food and the genuinely caring owner, this place left a wonderful impression on me. I'll definitely be back (and next time, I'm holding you to that horchata Charlie! :)

    Ribeye burrito
    Madeleine L.

    This rating is solely for the rib-eye burrito--quality that's worth the price. Yes, it's pricey, but if you want a good ribeye burrito, this is it. Stuffed with cabbage slaw and beans, it's juicy, flavorful and filling but doesn't give you that heavy feeling afterwards. The ribeye is tender, soft, yum! Combined with their habanero sauce, I could eat this once a week.

    Chuleta Chorreada

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    7 days ago

    so good! Home made agua frescas ! And customer service is 10/10! I recommend coming here!

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    11 days ago

    Amazing the food tasted great and i love the atmosphere and i want to come again. Recommended for everyone

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    Bandito Taqueria

    Bandito Taqueria

    4.6(502 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    •$$

    Bandito Taqueria -- A Taste of Tijuana in the Heart of Santa Ana…read more If you're looking for Tijuana-style Mexican food with serious flavor, Bandito Taqueria is a spot worth checking out. From the moment you walk in, you get that authentic TJ-style taqueria feel, with the aromas of mesquite, fresh tortillas, and classic Mexican ingredients filling the room. The mesquite flavor really stands out--it gives the meats that smoky, grilled taste that makes every bite memorable. And the handmade tortillas are a game changer: warm, fresh, and the perfect foundation for the tacos and other dishes. The guacamole is fresh, creamy, and full of flavor, while the crispy seasoned chips bring a satisfying crunch and just the right amount of seasoning. Pair those with the salsa and you've got the perfect start to the meal. What also makes the experience special is the hospitality. The atmosphere feels welcoming and relaxed, making it a great place to enjoy a meal with family or friends. Located in the heart of Santa Ana, Bandito Taqueria brings a taste of Tijuana to Orange County with smoky mesquite flavors, handmade tortillas, fresh guacamole, and seriously satisfying Mexican food. 5/5 TJ-style flavor Mesquite-grilled goodness Handmade tortillas Fresh guacamole Crispy seasoned chips Great hospitality Bandito Taqueria delivers the kind of food that makes you want to come back hungry. Definitely a spot to put on your Santa Ana food list! #BanditoTaqueria #SantaAnaEats #SantaAnaFood #TijuanaStyle #TJStyle #MexicanFood #Tacos #Taqueria #TacoLovers #Mesquite #HandmadeTortillas #Guacamole #Foodie #FoodReview #EatswithEddie #OCFoodie #OrangeCountyEats #MoreReviews

    ordered these for takeout. unfortunately they forgot to give us any pineapple (which we asked for)…read morebut it is what it is. this is my parents favorite place to order tacos, but my heart is with angel's tijuana tacos in anaheim. to me this place was just okay, but to be fair i didn't have much of an appetite in the first place. i ordered the asada and al pastor queso tacos and the meat was very tender and good, but they were just missing a wow factor for me. same with the chips and guac, i found it just okay. my parents rated this place 9.5/10 and 10/10. i'll give it a 7/10. i think this place is just slightly above average for a taco spot.

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    Bandito Taqueria - Nice spacious dining room.

    Nice spacious dining room.

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    Chicken Flour Quesadilla

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    Taqueria El Gordito

    Taqueria El Gordito

    3.9(379 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    •$$

    I've driven by this little spot quite a few times but never had the chance to stop. I finally did…read moretoday, and I'm glad I checked it out! I ordered everything to go and went with their Tijuana-style tacos--dos tacos de lengua con todo and dos tacos de carne asada con todo--along with green and red salsa and some limes. If you know lengua, you know it needs to be cleaned and cooked a very specific way, and they definitely got that part right. The lengua was cooked well and had a good texture. For my personal taste, though, it was just missing a little salt. Other than that, the food was good. It's a cute, small spot with some outdoor seating. They also have aguas frescas like horchata, pan dulce, and coffee, so there's a little bit of everything. Overall, a nice little neighborhood taqueria to pull up to when you're craving some Tijuana-style tacos.

    I was in the area and decided to grab some lunch. Someone mentioned that the Horchata water was…read moregood, first of all it was from the machine so that was already a bad sign. The tacos had plenty of meat tho. I had 2 adabada and 2 cabesa tacos. Adobada Tacos - the tortillas could use a little more oil when you say TJ style. The meat was more in the sweet side 1-5 (1) Cabesa Tacos- The meat was nice and fresh and had good flavor 1-5 (4) the yellow corn tortilla is always a nice touch. The salsas 1-5 (1) are not spicy and lack flavor It's not sitting outside but I'd rather eat inside. The Horchata Water can also use some work. 1-5 (2) This is just my taste buds talking we all have different taste buds, but this would not be my first choice for tacos.

    Photos
    Taqueria El Gordito - Breakfast grub.

    Breakfast grub.

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    Taqueria El Gordito - Burrito combo, massive!

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    Ah Carbon Tacos - Quesaburrito with asada.

    Ah Carbon Tacos

    3.8(26 reviews)
    3.9 mi

    First time here. The location of this truck is in a sketchy and a bit dangerous area. When I…read morevisited, there were people who appear to abusing substances standing next to the truck. The food was pretty good as far as flavor and quality of meat goes. You could taste the bbq flavor on the meat which really added to each bite. The price was a bit on the higher end for the portion sizes you get. I would love to return, given that the area is safe because it's hard to find a decent taco truck.

    I stopped by this taco truck this past weekend, and after trying quite a few taco spots, here are…read moremy thoughts on this one. First off, I really love that they use charcoal to cook their meat. That smoky flavor is something you just can't replicate with other cooking methods, and it definitely stands out. They also give a generous amount of sides and avocado with every taco, which I really appreciated. I ordered the tripe, chorizo, and carne asada tacos. The carne asada was good--nice flavor overall, though it could use just a touch more salt. Still very enjoyable and easy to overlook. I'd give the asada a 8/10. The tripe taco was where I struggled a bit. I usually like tripe with a bit of bite and crunch, but this one was way too crunchy. At one point I genuinely wondered if I was going to crack a tooth . It also needed more salt.If they cooked this a little less honestly this would be much higher on my rating. I'd rate the tripe a 5.5/10. The chorizo was well cooked and flavorful. Like many places now, the seasoning was lighter so you can adjust it yourself, which I don't mind at all. I'd give the chorizo a 7/10. Overall, this is a decent taco truck with some solid flavors and good portions. Worth checking out, especially if you appreciate charcoal-grilled meat.

    Photos
    Ah Carbon Tacos - Outside

    Outside

    Ah Carbon Tacos - Tacos Al pastor and asada with side fixings.

    Tacos Al pastor and asada with side fixings.

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