Great little family-owned, hole in the wall Mexican restaurant. The space is small and simple; the…read morefood is delicious and the customer service is kind and warm. Tacos, freshly made salsas and a delicious fruit smoothie because why not?! I'll be back!

Overall: Americanized tacos, friendly staff Food: Tacos came…read morewith lettuce instead of street-style; quesadilla arrived with guacamole and sour cream. Salsa tasted bland and looked like it had just been pulled from a freezer. The main positive was that they don't skimp on the meat, which was a pleasant surprise. Service: Staff were friendly. Atmosphere & logistics: Limited seating -- not good for groups. Bottom line & tip: Not recommended for authentic Mexican; if you want something better than Del Taco, come solo or with one other and skip group outings.

There is a term you say in Hawai'i that when something is good, it "broke da mouth." AND THIS…read moreVEGAN Mexican dinner by El Cocinero BROKE MY MOUTH! I recently tried out El Cocinero's food at an event that they catered to. As a person who eats meat and is not restricted, I would come here for the good food. The vegan al pastor had chunks of pineapple and it is seasoned and cooked to taste just like the meat version. The texture is just a little bit different but it does resemble a lot like meat. The vegan pastor also tastes just like the meat version, just less "smoky" and the texture is softer. The rice is flavorful and fluffy. The beans are seasoned just enough to have flavor but not compete with the other dishes. The creamy chipotle sauce was perfect topping the rice and beans. I do like vegan food but the only reference I had with Mexican vegan are places that try to add fake cheese and lean heavily on beans and rice. This business shows that you can still have all the flavors and not rely on cheese and meat. They focus on the flavors and not what would make non-vegans feel comfortable. Initially, I was going to give this first time experience a 4 star review so that it encourages me to go check out the restaurant so I can add the service and the ambiance. However, I was lucky enough to bring home leftovers and as I was eating it, the food tastes better. Had to add the extra star!

First time at El cocinero, planning on coming back again and again and again!!!!!!!…read more I was informed it was all and everything is vegan which I love tacos and to find a vegan Mexican spot that is all vegan came in clutch. This place had everything you'd need and tastes so good for a vegan spot. You would be able to fool me and tell me this is actual meat and I'd believe it. That's how good it was! I got the quesadilla (half asada, half al pastor) omg that was the best thing I have ever had. The cheese melts and pulls just like regular Cheese. The meat was so juicy and good flavor. I'd get it again and again But I'd probably try the tacos next time along with the quesadilla tbh. I also got the flan which was tbh less sweeter than a regular flan. But hey I still loved it, I don't complain about it. It was still delicious. (Funny incident, I ordered the flan at the front and paid for it.i wasn't told anything else by the guy at the register. SoThen went back to the table and Waited and waited and waited for a good 20 minutes, till I asked about it and was told that I can just grab it out of the refrigerator!!!! Smh, as much as I was upset as much as I for some reason just found it funny. So don't do the same mistake I did and just go grab it right after you pay for it.) Overall, I loved everything and all the things about this place. Nice seating areas, nice environment , helpful workers,convenient parking! And most importantly, delicious food. Definitely be visiting this place again!

Tacos were The handmade tortillas were so fresh…read more The quesadillas were amazing Some of the best Al pastor and cabeza I've had

I'm more than happy to support taco stands and street vendors if it's clean, but what I saw when…read morethey were making my food was concerning. First, I saw a young man dump out precooked chicken from grocery store plastic bags onto the grill. My food had lettuce on it and there wasn't any cut up, so he got a whole head of iceberg lettuce... unwashed... and started chopping it and then put it on my food. Lastly, the man I paid was wearing gloves and cooking meat. He took my money with the gloves still on. After the transaction, he used hand sanitizer on the gloves and continued cooking. While these in and of itself are concerning, I'm more concerned about the food prep that I don't see. I paid for and took the food, but I couldn't eat it after what I saw. These people are obviously hard workers and have tasty food -- I hope that they have continued success while maintaining a safe and clean environment.

First time coming in, and we were very impressed! The food was fresh and delicious - all the tacos…read morewere so good. The salsa tower was a must as well. The vibes were great and our server Morgan was the best!! She had great recommendations and was so tentative. Definitely will be back.

Great ambience, food, and experience overall. Cameron was a great host and helped with all our…read morespecial requests. We will visit again.

Forgot to take a picture of when the food got here but that's how good it looked! And It tasted…read moreeven better!! The employees were incredible, it is such a hospitable environment where the food is made with quality ingredients and a caring nature I will definitely recommend the place and if you need a birria grilled cheese this is it!

Solid Peruvian food and taco spot in the valley! We enjoyed our food! Would definitely come againread more

Quick order in a fairly short line. The guy behind the counter who took our order was very friendly…read moreand accommodating, especially as I asked if I could order my Migas with no onions (no problem-yay!). My husband got 2 tacos, brisket and chicken and a side of chips. I through in a side of crispy potatoes. This was a nice cool Sunday evening around 6pm, the vibe was full-ish but still places to sit. There's a big bar around the cook area inside where you order or a covered patio outside area (with heating if necessary). We had a lovely evening, so we sat at the end of a bench. Our food came to our table I'd say within 10-15 minutes of ordering. I honestly could have shared mine. It was a lot with those potatoes, and even my husband who's a thin guy said one of those tacos would have been sufficient (and he could have helped me with mine...haha). We were just in the area visiting our kids, we come down frequently from NorCal, so we will definitely hit up this place again now that we've found it in the near future. So good and super relaxed and easy.

Homestate I love you but PLEASE bring back the old sauce (squeeze) bottles. These glass ones are…read moreawful. When you try to get the salsa out, only liquid pours onto the tacos and you don't actually get any of the salsa goodness until you wack the bottle SO hard and then it comes FLOODING out. I ate my tacos sans salsa because I couldn't even get it to come out of the bottle. What a bummer because their salsa is delicious! I got my usual brisket breakfast taco and it was just sopping wet. I don't recall it ever coming out that juicy. It was delicious, but super soggy. I also ordered my tacos on the corn tortillas which were good, but their flour tortillas are definitely the star. One soggy taco isn't going to deter me from coming back, I do love the food here. Just wanted to provide feedback on those sauce bottles! Love, A salsa girlie

Super good birria queso tacos! The cheesy tortillas are atill hot and crunchy after delivery. The…read moreconsomme is beefy and strong (no weak flavors here). The salsas could do a better job at keeping up. Overall extremely happy eaters!

I've been on a bit of a Birria kick lately. Birrieria San Marcos was so good back in 2019, I had to…read morecome back for another visit. Everything is packaged to-go, as there is only one lonely table out front to eat on the spot. I came in again for their delicious Consommé, a Taco Dorado, A Birria Soft Taco and a Birria Burrito. As expected, everything was excellent. The Birria is so tender, with just the right amount of kick. The service is friendly and they do a good job loading up your order with plenty of salsa and condiments. If you have never tried Birrieria San Marcos, you are missing out!

Always amazing and delicious. Favorite taco spot in the valley. The staff is also very friendly and…read morehelpful! We love Fatima! TACO TUESDAY DEALS!!!

Tacos 1986 is hands down one of the best taco spots in LA. The carne asada tacos are incredible…read more the beef is perfectly seasoned, tender, and packed with flavor. Every bite tastes fresh and authentic. On top of the food, the service made the experience even better. Fatima was an amazing host -- super welcoming, attentive, and made sure everything was perfect for us. She really brought great energy to the place. If you're craving legit tacos and great hospitality, Tacos 1986 is a must. I'll definitely be coming back.