I finally stopped in to try this staple I've heard about for a while now and while going into…read morerestaurants with high expectations can be intimidating, Valencia's did not disappoint. You're greeted with a welcoming environment featuring pan dulce, a little grocery store next door, and an extensive menu. The bar area was pretty busy too with many customers watching a game, fun! The cashier was friendly and had some candies for customers by the register--really tasty watermelon chili candy! We ordered the super burrito with chorizo and the pozole and while we waited we enjoyed the chips and salsa bar. I like that they have avocado salsa available, it's the best. Everything came out in a timely manner and was accompanied by real cane sugar mexican sodas in glass bottles. The pozole was quite yummy! This isn't a dish that is typically made well in restaurants but theirs was fairly good with the exception of a lot of bones but that is also typically expected with pozole. If left without the option to make it at home, Valencia's pozole may just be the next best option. The super burrito was just perfect. Absolutely satisfying and tasty. It's huge too so you can very easily get two meals out of it. I look forward to trying more of their menu, I'd definitely come back!

For breakfast, I had the aporreadillo with green sauce, and it was delicious! Aporreadillo is a…read moretraditional Mexican dish made with dried meat that's fried to perfection, then mixed with eggs and sauce. Savory and packed with flavor, the kind of breakfast that definitely wakes up this Rex! And I couldn't leave without taking uchepos to go. These are one of my absolute favorites! Soft, slightly sweet fresh-corn tamales served with crema, queso fresco, and salsa. That sweet-and-savory combination is perfection. If you know, you know. And if you don't, this is your sign to try them! Rex Tip: They recently expanded the whole place, and it's much bigger than it used to be! You've got the restaurant, grocery store, bakery, and carnicería all under one roof. Come for breakfast and leave with sweet bread, groceries, and probably a few extra goodies. 5 ROARS from Focusaurus Rex!

I reached out to Christian just a week before my event. The communication was excellent from the…read morestart, and he was quick to respond to all of my questions. The drop-off was right on time, which made everything so easy and stress-free. Most importantly, the food was delicious! We had catering for about 30 people, and everyone really enjoyed the tacos and the overall quality of the food and still had plenty leftover! Everything was fresh, tasty, and perfect for my event. I highly recommend him for anyone looking for delicious food, reliable service, and a smooth catering experience. Would definitely consider for future events!

Today my husband and I went to an event at our local jeweler; they had locos tacos catering. The…read moretacos were delicious! We had carnitas, Al pastor, and chicken plus their green salsa. The meats were flavorful and super tender, the green salsa was the right amount of spice and paired well with their rice and beans. The two guys out there were so nice and were patient with explaining all of the options offered to the customers who were mostly elderly.

The food is amazing abd the customer service is top notch!! I recommend it to anyone that likes…read moreMexican food. The owner is so kind, helpful, thoughtful and caring.

The tacos were so bus I need to come back here I would eat this John for break fast lunch and…read moredinner.

Honestly, my BF found this place and I was skeptical but it was SOOO worth it. I got the Al Pastor…read moreburrito and he got tacos with all they're different meats to choose from! They don't have tapatio or different hot sauces to choose from but they have fresh salsa, toppings that you can take with you and I LOVE spice so when I tried their pickled onion with chopped up habanero I loved it! Can't wait to try a different meat next time. (BF demolished his tacos lol) Grab some, so WORTH it!

Overall rating 8.5/10 so delicious! Only reason it's not a 10/10 is because the tacos are only one…read moretortilla, a delicious tortilla! But I like my 2 haha. Also they don't put the cilantro and onion in the burritos. I'm just a brat and don't like to unroll and re roll. Lol. It's honestly super good and the service was quick! They have salsa and other fixings on the table in front. The truck is really nice and looks super clean too! Will deff come back here. They hooked it uppp with meat too! It's super flavorful and the salsa are 10/10!! The meat is super flavorful, don't skip out on the pastor it's bomb.com. Comin back to try that papa rellena!!

All meat flavors are delicious! Al pastor is the best, so…read moreso good. Carnitas taco yummy. Shrimp taco yummy. Al pastor taco AND burrito were AMAZING. Carne asada burrito is also AMAZING. We've been here a couple times and it is so, so good. The owner is very kind, patient, and gives great service. Checked in on us several times and we felt very welcome. The pictures, decorations, and overall feel is just right for a casual lunch or dinner.

Excellent food, great value and welcoming staff. When we stopped by a couple days ago a business…read morenext door was having an issue with flooding. Despite a clearly stressful situation the staff stayed extremely friendly and welcoming. It's clear how much love and care goes into this restaurant. Outside of that warmth in the service you can taste the love I. The food. It tastes home made, and made with great deal of care. From a diverse salsa bar, to succulent meats, to some of the best flan I have ever tasted this place is amazing. The interior is welcoming. The salsa bar is incredible. We will absolutely be back.

El Tapatío in Citrus Heights is a little hidden gem serving up some seriously delicious, authentic…read moreMexican food! I usually get the albóndigas soup, and it never disappoints! Hearty, flavorful, and comforting, just like a good homemade Mexican soup should be. I've also enjoyed their wet burrito smothered in green sauce, a tamale without the red sauce on top, and a side of tamalito, a delicious sweet tamale! The perfect little treat to round out the meal. Everything is packed with flavor and keeps this hungry dino coming back for more! Now, this dino has traveled and experienced Casa Bonita in Colorado, and I'd call El Tapatío Citrus Heights' own little version! It's nowhere near as big or elaborate, but it has that same fun, immersive atmosphere. The colorful Mexican decor gives the place so much character, making you feel like you've been transported straight to Mexico. Pair that with authentic food, and you've got a dining experience that's more than just a meal! Rex Tip: Come hungry on weekend mornings because they offer a Mexican breakfast buffet! There are so many delicious, authentic dishes to choose from, including freshly handmade tortillas! Just be prepared for a line because this place is popular, and for good reason. We've happily waited our turn because the food is absolutely worth it! A little taste of Mexico right here in Citrus Heights that's definitely worth digging into! 5 ROARS from Focusaurus Rex!

Met some friends for lunch and this was our first time here. We were surprised how large the place…read morewas inside. We were seated back towards the bar area. There are TVs there to watch sports. There are big booths in the back and we were given menus right away. Our server came by shortly after to take our orders. Baskets of tortilla chips and salsas were brought to the table. Always love chips and salsa. We ordered margaritas to start. I had the enchilada plate and my friend had a salad. The food was good and there was plenty of it so was very full. When another group came in and were seated next to us the people kept moving around which made the seats our friends were sitting in move also.

Once again, Emio took great care of our hearts and tummies this evening!…read more Two Plinys, one plate of carne asada and short rib tacos, and another with short rib, pork, and shrimp tacos. Everything was delicious, as always! And of course, the chips and salsa were a hit. The staff is so warm and welcoming the moment you walk in, and the energy here is great all around. After a long workday, this is exactly the kind of place we love to unwind, enjoy good food, and feel right at home. Always a pleasure coming back to Emio!

Nixtaco is a bit of a drive for me from Elk Grove but after all the buzz I've heard about it, I…read morewanted to try it out. It was a busy weekend dinner hour. There is a bar but that was packed and unfortunately this is in a small strip mall that had no other businesses for us to check out while we waited. Parking can be challenging as well. Luckily the wait was probably only 30 minutes since we were ok being seated inside. I tried the pork belly taco, fried chicken taco, and quesabirria taco starting at 8 bucks a piece. If you eat in, you also get complimentary chips and a salsa flight. My favorite was the green salsa, although I enjoyed all three of the milder salsas (four salsas are plated in order of heat). They also have a small distillery so you can get mixed drinks or bottles from them. Too bad there are no tasting flights. My favorite taco was the pork belly. It was juicy and flavorful. I just wished there was more of it to enjoy lol. Both the quesabirria and the fried chicken were less exciting for me and lacked depth of flavor. The fried chicken was also a bit dry but adding salsa on top greatly improved the experience for me. I'm glad I checked this place out and crossed it off my list. The salsas were unique and the tortillas were nice and fresh. But for the flavor and price, I can probably get a better deal and equally satisfying (but less artisanal) meal elsewhere in town.

First time to El Balcon, and it was fantastic. I ordered the chilaquiles w/green sauce + added to…read moreover medium eggs. Best I've ever had.

I'm writing this on my husband's behalf since he didn't want to make a fuss - but his issue was…read morelegitimately dangerous and worth mentioning. The other day he went to El Balcon to grab a shredded chicken burrito for lunch. After a number of bites he bit into a spot that he said tasted like tuna and immediately made him feel sick, and as he was noticing that he realized there was a curved shard of metal in his mouth. We were thinking because of the sudden tuna taste maybe it was part of a tuna can lid that somehow wound up in the shredded chicken container? How? How does that go unnoticed during the making of the burrito? If someone swallowed that it would cause pretty significant internal damage. He brought it to their attention and apparently they just offered him another burrito...um, no thanks. I would've at least asked for my money back but he's a better man than I and just let it go. I get that it's just a fluke and not all the food is gonna have metal in it, but it's more what it says about their quality control, and if it happened once I'm not willing to go back to see if it happens again.

absolutely delicious!!!!! best I've ever had and I will continue to keep coming back for more food!…read moreflavor, quality, cleanliness, service is top notch!

My original 5 star review in June 2024 still stands. I've been back 10 more times but not for dine…read more- in. I buy meat at the butcher counter, tortillas on the shelf, tomatillos and cilantro from the tiny carousel. Yeah and I'm thirsty so a can of guava juice, too. Today in addition to those items I bought a 1 lb container of the fresh ceviche. They ain't lying, it's fresh. Stays crisp in their fridge because it isn't drowned in sauce. I went home immediately with the goodies. Warmed up the tortillas, opened the ceviche, sprinkled some fresh lemon on it. Best light healthy lunch a grown man can get. Happiness.

STOP. Come inside & eat some great Mexican food…read more I'm from LA was passing by and was craving Mexican food. Immaculate tasting food This is NO JOKE, hands down, one of the best tasting Mexican foods I've had around this area. Their beans are vegetarian which is nice if you're someone who loves Mexican food & is vegetarian Food: Birria tacos- juicy, fatty, cooked to perfection. The consume is amazing, flavorful, & has pieces of meat. Steak plate- the steak was medium rare, little char grilling to it. Seasoned well & cooked nicely. The bed or grilled squash was hands down AMAZING. I don't know how they seasoned it, but the char on the veggies were perfect. Bone marrow plate- delicious, Juicy, fatty, and filling. The flour tortillas were the perfect touch to a filling plate. Just the right amount of food There is minimal seating inside. The area was clean. There is a restroom inside as well. Overall, an amazing hole in the wall, great Mexican restaurant. The owner took our order, was kind, & attentive to us. Definitely will be recommending this place to our friends who live close by!

We like to keep our reviews short and sweet so here we go:…read more 1 The place was not clean. Tables needed wiped, floor needed swept, no ice in soda fountain, behind the counter was disorganized 2 We ordered chips and salsa and burritos. They Didn't bother to tell us the burritos included chips and salsa (we would have ordered a different side) 3 The burritos were good but were mostly rice 4 The food was way overpriced for what we received. A lot more expensive than something comparable Dos Coyotes or Chipotle 5 fountain sodas were $4+ 6 There were no Latinos working there which I find odd for a Mexican restaurant Because the place was not very clean, there was no ice, and the poor value (my husband and I can afford it but we just felt like it was comparable to paying $2.50 for a can soda from a soda machine when most machines these days are $1 per can) we will not be returning to The Char any time soon.