Category: taco spot review

Los Carnalitos: A Taste Of Mexico City in Hayward

There I was.

Hungry again.

I thought to myself: This feels like a taco day. (Every day is a taco day, BTW.)

I was a little pressed for time so I wanted to go somewhere easy to get to. I remembered doing a review of Cowbell Taqueria a couple of months ago, and since it had been awhile, I felt it would be a good choice to stop in and grab a bite.

Driving up, however, I noticed there was a sign covering Cowbell Taqueria sign. Los Carnalitos? I quickly googled and found almost unanimously positive reviews of their food truck in Redwood City. I thought to myself: I gotta check this out.

Based on my previous experience at this location, I was fully prepared to walk in order my food to go and eat in my car.

But as I walked in, there was definitely a different feel to this place. All of a sudden, I wanted to sit down and take more time.

Inside the restaurant there are about 9 tables. Gone was the booth seating and flat screen menus. There is still the open kitchen in the back corner, and you can either place an order to go at the register near the door or be seated. The wait staff gave a warm welcome: he was super friendly and engaging as he directed me to an open table.

Although I already knew I was there for tacos, I sat down and took some time to scope out the rest of the menu. It has all the classic Mexico City offerings: quesadillas, haurraches, tostadas, gorditas, and more.

Los Carnalitos Menu

On the front cover of the menu, Los Carnalitos tells their story. Owners Alfredo Santos and Luis Alberto started their journey by opening a food truck in 2015. 3 years later they have taken the step to open a brick and mortar restaurant in Union City, California.

“We gathered our mother’s recipes and bring them to you with all of our love and experience.”

The name Los Carnalitos is a term used in Mexico City meaning friend or brother.

But as I said: I was there for the tacos.

For this trip, I had Suadero, Carnitas, Asada, Al Pastor, and Conchinita. The carnitas and pastor came with a green salsa that had a nice blend of chiles. Some spice, but nothing that will make you sweat it out. The suadero had chunks of tender beef: super flavorful with a good balance of fat, heat, and spice. The carnitas was hearty: fantastic pork flavor without being greasy. Asada had a some great flavors with a little char that gave the taco a crispiness that added to the textures. What can I say about the conchinita? First of all, I always get excited when I see cochinita on a menu, and this did not disappoint. The pastor was well-marinated and had a rich and smoky flavor. This one was my favorite. (And I had to order another before left!)

While finishing up, I had the chance to speak with one of the owners, Alfredo, for a few moments. He gave me a little more info on the restaurant and their food truck in Redwood City.
After speaking with him, I had to check out the chorizo. I’m glad he pointed me in that direction. The chorizo was legit. That green salsa blended well with the spices in the chorizo. As with most tacos, there was some collateral damage when some of the chorizo fell onto the plate but it was so exciting to scoop up the little bits on my plate.

Los Carnalitos serves classic Mexico City food with an undeniable authenticity. I am happy I had the chance to check them out. If you are in Union City or Redwood City, this is an authentic Taqueria worth visiting.

Los Carnalitos Restaurant
30200 Industrial Pkwy SW
Hayward, CA 94544 at Whipple Rd
https://www.yelp.com/biz/los-carnalitos-restaurant-hayward

Los Carnalitos – Food Truck
2907 El Camino Real
Redwood City, CA 94063
https://www.yelp.com/biz/los-carnalitos-redwood-city-3?osq=los+carnalitos

May 8, 2018
Tacos on a Tuesday with Tacos El Precioso

Tacos El Precioso @ Eli’s Mile High Club

I recently caught up with Devin Gonzalez – owner of Tacos El Precioso – at his regular Tuesday pop up at Eli’s Mile High Club, a bar / music venue on Martin Luther King Blvd in Oakland, CA. I know what you’re thinking…tacos on a Tuesday?! What can I say? I like to live on the edge. 😛

“How did all of this start?”

Having worked in restaurants, people close to him encouraged him to start his own thing.

“…they would tell me you can really do this, your food is good!”

And so, after some more urging, Devin decided to give it a go. Tacos El Precioso has been up and running for about a year. Gonzalez is working hard to fill out his schedule with pop ups at local bars, business, and private events. He has pop ups around Oakland throughout the month, including pop ups @ Temescal Brewing Company and a Vegan Pozole Pop Up @ Hasta Muerta Coffee.

The name Taco El Precioso comes from a nickname that his grandmother gave to him as her first grandchild. (Precioso meaning precious.)

“It’s tacos, you can’t take it too seriously, so why not?” Devin explains.

Vegan Pozole – Tacos El Precioso

It’s with that approach Gonzalez handles his business and his food: nothing too pretentious, just good food. But sometimes Gonzalez needs a little assist with the pop up and on this Tuesday, his friend Shelly helps whip up food while Andrea handles the orders.

“We’re all friends!” they tell me, and that comes shining through when you talk with them, as well as the way they work together.

But now, let’s talk food. On the menu the evening of my visit were carne asada, cauliflower pastor, chicken tinga, shrimp ceviche tostada, vegan pozole, and Mexican ice cream sandwiches. I did not indulge in the ice cream sandwiches this time around (sad, I know  )

Asada X Cauliflover Pastor X Chicken Tinga – Tacos El Precioso

I’ll start by saying these tacos were gorgeous. The colors, the smells: it was a thing of beauty. Everything I ate was high quality and super flavorful. If I had to choose, the standouts for me were the chicken tinga taco and the shrimp ceviche tostada. The chicken tinga almost melted in your mouth, with a rich, hearty flavor in the chicken and a hint of sweetness on the back end.

Shrimp Ceviche – Tacos El Precioso

The ceviche was super light and gave a nice burst of freshness to accompany my beer. The softness of the shrimp combined with the crunch of the tostada made for the perfect bite. Oh, and then there was the cauliflower pastor. You don’t say? Its good – trust me.

Devin Gonzalez (center) gets an assist from friends Shelly (left) and Andrea (right)

Had a great time during my visit. Next time I’ll have to try the ice cream sandwhiches.Overall I find that the crew that makes up Tacos El Precioso is just a good group of people making really good food – and having some fun while doing it.

You can catch Taco El Precioso at their weekly pop up @ Eli’s Mile High Club.

To schedule Tacos El Precioso for your next event, go to tacosperciso.com

Be sure to follow them on INSTAGRAM: @tacoselprecioso.

April 16, 2018
Tacos y Chelas – Bringing Beer & Tacos Together

Taquero Gerardo Avila has big plans. Having worked in some well-known restaurants in and around Oakland, Avila has cultivated and sharpened his skills in the kitchen and has decided to step out and create for himself. Tacos y Chelas has quickly become a welcomed sight at his regular pop-ups in downtown Oakland.

As the name would suggest, the business concept is straightforward. Equal parts tacos and chelas (beer). The name serves both his current business model as well as his future aspirations. Avila works to build relationships and partner with local bars and business to serve tacos at their events and venues. Meanwhile, his long-range goal is to move into a brick and mortar space and begin brewing beer to pair with his tacos.

His approach is to build more of a community between the customers and the taquero. Growing up in East Oakland, Gerado realized that there are very few taqueros and restaurants that continue to put an emphasis on building personal connections with their customers. In response, Tacos y Chelas wants to improve that. This friendly and personable chef is constantly engaging with customers, hoping to give them the best experience possible. Wherever you see them set up, there are stools open for patrons who want to sit and chat while they enjoy their food.

“It’s just important to have that interaction with the people you are serving,” Avila explains

It has been a focal point to make connections and build relationships on both ends of his business. Not only generating real relationships with customers but with suppliers as well. Tacos y Chelas chooses to source his ingredients from local Mexican owned merchants and farms. He uses those ingredients to make his own salsas and help create his continually changing menu.

For this visit, I caught up with him at Ale Industries – a brewery located in the Fruitvale neighborhood. After I arrived, it didn’t take too long to realize that this is a family affair. On this particular Sunday, Gerado was joined by his brother Miguel helping take orders and prep, while his wife Nicoya, with the assistance of their 6-month old son, handled the cash. The vibe they created at their station was more of a family cookout rather than a taco for cash transaction.

But these weren’t any ordinary tacos you’d get in someone’s backyard. These tacos were tremendous. They were really well prepared and incredibly flavorful. I think you should try all of them, but there were two standouts for me. First, the Nopal y Calabaza which is cactus and squash. I am not a vegetarian by any means. I repeat, NOT a Vegetarian, but this taco was pretty stellar. The textures of filling as well as the balance made it stand out for me. And secondly, I am a sucker for a good Pastor taco and Tacos Y Chelas delivered with their version. Marinated pork, salsa, pineapple BOOM!

I really enjoyed my experience there and can’t wait to check them out again, as I am sure there will be other options for me to sample as well. If you want to check out Tacos y Chelas.

Instagram: @Tacosychelas.oak

Facebook: Tacosychelas.oak

February 25, 2018
Taco Spot Review: Casa Latina Bakery Berkeley, CA

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Located on San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley, Casa Latina Bakery is a popular spot in the neighborhood. After driving by it so many times – en

route from Oakland to Berkeley – it was time to finally check out this sometimes bustling taqueria.

In the main dining hall, paintings of Frida Kahlo line the walls. The dining area has several tables along the wall and there are two larger tables in the middle of the dining room. There is also a small platform/stage in the back of the room. It was not immediately clear if they ever have live music. (I hope they do).

Casa Latina offers a variety of taco options. Their Tacos de Plaza are served with two small tortillas and with a choice of salsas: mild salsa fresca, medium green tomatillo salsa, and a spicy chile de Arbol salsa. Choices for taco fillings include Pollo Asado (grilled chicken), Carnitas (pork), Carne Asada (steak), Chorizo (Mexican pork sausage), Al Pastor (pork marinated in adobo seasoning), and Barbacoa (slow-cooked shredded beef). In addition to Tacos de Plaza, Casa Latina has options such as Tacos Dorados, Taquitos de Papa (rolled potato tacos), a veggie taco (includes black beans, mushrooms and spinach), shrimp, grilled fish, and beer battered fish tacos.

Outside of the tacos, Casa Latina offers expected taqueria options such as burritos, nachos, quesadillas, and pupusas. Being a bakery, there are also a number of baked goods available. As you walk into the restaurant, you’ll see display cases full of delicious looking baked goods. I am not well versed in Mexican pastries so on this visit I passed.

casa latina display case

One of the things I really liked when ordering was the cashier asking which level of heat I wanted for my tacos. Naturally, I requested the spicier salsa. I normally assume ‘spicy’ at a restaurant means they added a jalapeno to the salsa. The spicy salsa at Casa Latina was not the typical spicy. It was right kind of heat: just enough to feel your taste buds light up, but not enough to clear your sinuses.

Asada X Chorizo X Barbacoa

For this visit, I got 3 tacos: 1 Asada, 1 Chorizo, and 1 Barbacoa. These tacos were outstanding. On first look, I thought the steak was a little overdone but I think it was just the charring from the grill. The steak was tender and well-flavored. The Chorizo was pure spicy goodness. Paired with the spicy salsa it was heat heaven for a spice hound like myself. The barbacoa was a little disappointing. While the flavor was nice, I got mostly fat on my plate.

All in all, I really liked Casa Latina’s well-prepared, bright, vibrant food. It’s an awesome place to host a group or to meet a friend. The restaurant is busy but not too loud. There was great artwork on the walls, as well as some good people watching out of the windows that look onto San Pablo Ave. While some of their offerings are pricier than other taquerias in the area ($6.50 for a fish taco), Casa Latina executes their dishes with authenticity and skill. If you’re in the neighborhood and looking for a more refined taco experience you should check out Casa Latina.

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November 20, 2017
Taco Spot Review: Cowbell Taqueria Union City

Cowbell Taqueria is located in a strip mall off of Industrial Parkway and Whipple Rd in Union City. This clean, modern taqueria’s fresh ingredients and flavorful fillings delight customers. First impressions, when I walked in, I noticed how clean it is. I chose to take this as a good sign. In the restaurant, there were about 12 tables with bench seating.

Behind the counter, there are 3 large flat screen TVs that display the menu. To be honest, it is not the most extensive menu I’ve seen, but all the standards are there: Tacos, Burritos, Enchiladas etc. At the end of the counter was a salsa bar with tortilla chips and a variety of salsas. (For this visit I tried their habanero salsa.)

I ordered 5 tacos for this trip. Chicken x Chorizo x Carnitas x Pastor x Steak. The standouts in this lineup were the steak and the chorizo. I really liked all the tacos here. They came out piping hot off the grill. All of the ingredients were fresh and flavorful. And me being a pepper heard adding the habanero salsa took it to another level of deliciousness.

I liked everything that I had on my visit here. Offering classic taco options Cowbell Taqueria is a gem in this tucked away location. If you are in the area this is absolutely worth a try. You won’t regret it.

November 7, 2017
Taco Spot Review: The Burrito Truck Emeryville Califronia

The Burrito Truck Emeryville Logo

The bright red/orange caught the corner of my eye while driving down San Pablo Avenue in Emeryville. As I walked up, I realized that the name and the truck looked super familiar. It took a moment and I realized that it used to be stationed at a gas station on San Pablo Avenue in North Oakland. The Burrito Truck had been recommended to me, but like food trucks do sometimes, it had mysteriously disappeared from its previous location.

The Burito Truck – Emeryville

The Burrito Truck Emeryville Menu

Although the name is The Burrito Truck, as you could guess, I was there for the tacos. On this trip, I got 5 tacos in total: one asada, one chorizo, one chicken, one suadero, and one carnitas. Of the 5, I felt that the chicken and suadero were the best. The chicken was nice and juicy with a subtle sear, while the suadero was super tender and flavorful. I was not as impressed with the chorizo taco. I was expecting a little more heat. With that said, all of the tacos were well prepared and fresh off the griddle. They come served with jalapenos, radish, pickled carrots, and a lime wedge. The food did seem to come out at a pretty smooth pace.

I arrived there just before the lunch rush. There are several warehouses and office buildings within walking distance, so by the time I left there was a steady stream of customers. There are a few small colorful stools near the truck for people to sit outside and enjoy their food. Otherwise, there is no seating.

The Burrito Truck Emeryville

Overall this is a really solid truck. The fillings were super flavorful. The truck is parked right along the Emeryville greenway so you could ride your bike over if you’re in the neighborhood. The truck also accepts debit/credit, which is nice. This seems like a great spot to get your taco (or burrito) fix if you work in the area.

It looks like The Burrito Truck is primarily a Monday – Friday taco spot. They are parked across from 1255 67th Ave from 10 am – 4 pm Monday through Friday.

October 28, 2017
Elvia’s Sazon Serves Up Tacos With A Side Of Love

Elvia’s Sazon serves up Tacos with a side of love

As I am a writer for a taco focused blog, you would probably guess that I have seen my fair share of tacos. I’ve seen tacos overloaded with fillings, dripping with cheese. Then there are the tacos with unique fillings like mac and cheese or turkey and gravy. One day, while perusing Instagram, I came upon a plate of tacos with a beautiful purple back drop. Nothing unusual, but a picture that immediately made me think: “I want to eat that.” I checked out the profile and it was from a place I was not familiar with – Elvia’s Sazon in Richmond, California. Being from the Richmond area, I thought I knew all the spots to go. Oh, was I wrong.

@elviassazon on IG

And just like that, I was on another taco adventure…

This past Sunday I took a trip out to the Richmond Flea Market to find the taquero responsible for those tacos. (Note: The Richmond Flea Market runs from 7am -4pm Saturdays and Sundays – and you will find a couple hundred vendors selling pretty much anything you can think of.) Nestled in the middle of the market is where I find Elvia’s Sazon under a red-roofed canopy next to tables draped with purple tablecloths.

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On this trip I got two steak tacos and two chicken tacos. Both of them were outstanding! The tacos came with the expected accouterments: green onions, cilantro, and salsa. The salsa roja accentuated the flavors of the filling while balancing the textures of the taco. The addition of grilled onions on the side (which more taqueros need to do), definitely took everything up a notch. It added a sweet element to the taco that I really, really liked.

Other items on the menu include enchiladas and tacos dorados. I also sampled their aguas frescas and I was absolutely blown away. To describe the horchata in a word: addictive. The pineapple aguas frescas was unbelievable.

While ordering, it took no time to understand that this is a family affair. I had the opportunity to speak Elvia during my visit and she explained how her business came to be.

“They (her family) are the reason I still cook” Elvia explains.

Elvia came out of retirement to revive her business at the urging of her children. She agreed to restart her business under one condition: that they would help too. That is exactly what’s happening: three generations working hard to bring everything together. Elvia, her daughters, son-in law, and grandchildren are all pitching in to do their part.

During our conversation I asked if I could take a picture of her – she agreed, as long as I took a picture of the whole family.

At the time of this article the revival of Elvia’s Sazon, is less than 2 months in. And with a a few good tacos and a lot of love they I predict the are do really well. They are located at the Richmond Flea Market 716 W Gerrude Ave, Richmond California 94801 on Sundays 9:30am-4pm. I am not a demanding person, but I strongly suggest you check out this East Bay gem.

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September 16, 2017
Taco Spot Review: El Mezcal Taqueria, San Lorenzo

On this taco trip I got a chance to visit El Mezcal Taqueria in San Lorenzo, California.

I first noticed this taco spot while driving down Hesperian Blvd on my way to Kennedy Park. Driving by, the first thing that stood out to me was the sign outside for their 99 cent Taco Tuesday promotion. I immediately checked my calendar and realized that it was not Tuesday 🙁 but that little voice in my head reminded me “Tacos are for everyday.” So, with that, I decided to make a stop. Walking up to the building, it looks like an old school Taco Bell. Then I noticed the active drive through window and it made me think about chalupas, gorditas, and Doritos locos tacos.

When you walk in, you see a huge kitchen behind the counter. As far as seating, there is both indoor and outdoor seating available: a couple of booths and tables inside, and four or five tables with umbrellas on the patio. It definitely feels like a nice place to sit out and enjoy the tacos on your lunch break or in the early evening hours.

The menu at El Mezcal includes classic taqueria options: tacos, quesadillas, tortas, etc. Choices of meat for tacos include: Asada, Pastor, Pollo, Carnitas, Chile Verde, Lengua, Cabeza, Chorizo, and Cammarones. Regular tacos are $2.10 and super tacos are $4.25. Chips and salsa are free with your order. You also have the option to add two red salsas, one green salsa, and some pickled jalapenos and carrots.

I got 4 tacos: Asada, Carnitas, Chorizo, and Pollo. First off, the tacos are absolutely BEAUTIFUL. There’s the almost golden color of the tortillas, the the nice browning on the all the all the meats, plus the green cilantro, red salsa, and white onion almost looks like a Mexican flag on your plate. Not only were the tacos well plated and well presented, they taste good. The chicken has a lot of nice flavors – it was obviously marinated for several hours before getting on the grill; the chorizo had hints of spice that you can take up or down with your choice of salsa; the carnitas was nice and crispy like I like it, while keeping the distinct pork flavor; and the asada was solid as well.

This is definitely a place to check out if you’re ever in the area. Quality food, good presentation, and good construction of a taco. With the indoor and outdoor seating, this place could easily handle a group of friends.

This review has been for the Hesperian Location. El Mezcal also has 2 other locations listed below.

El Mezcal Taqueria Hesperian 18502 Blvd Hesperian Blvd San Lorenzo, CA 94580

El Mezcal Taqueria Lewelling 5 E Lewelling Blvd San Lorenzo, CA 94580

El Mezcal Taqueria Harder 194 Harder Rd, Hayward, CA 94544

September 8, 2017
Corners Café – 8711 MacArthur Blvd Oakland California 94605

The space inside Corners Café is bright and welcoming. Walking in, you definitely get the vibe that this is a community café. Employees from Youth Uprising next door, as well students were there enjoying the atmosphere. Out the windows you could see kids working on their tricks at the skate park and kids playing tag in the grass in front of the building.

Corners Café shares a building with Youth Uprising

There are a lot of things to like about Corners Café. They source local and sustainable ingredients. Aside from tacos, the menu includes breakfast and lunch options such as burgers, salads, etc. Nestled in the corner are nice couches where customers can sit and relax. There are a few tables for seating that would be awesome to order a coffee and relax with a book.

But, let’s make no mistake; I was there for there for the Tacos. ((((HEAD’S UP at the time of this writing, tacos are only available as a special on Tuesdays.)))) As a part of their Taco Tuesdays, there are 4 options: Steak, Chicken, Veggie, and Shrimp. On this visit, I went with 2 steak and 2 chicken. Both the chicken and the steak are served on warmed – almost crispy – white corn tortillas that have melted cheese. They are then topped with a mild red salsa, red onion, and cilantro.

The tacos lean more to the milder side when it comes to heat. The steak is well cooked with a real melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. The chicken was moist with some deep, rich flavors that are highlighted by the mix of cilantro, onion, and salsa. Overall, the tacos were great. They are a great value for $1.25 each.

2 Steak, 2 Chicken Tacos

Corners Café is a branch of Youth Uprising’s social enterprises. Youth Uprising is an NGO whose mission is “to transform East Oakland into a healthy and economically robust community by developing the leadership of youth and young adults and improving the systems that impact them.”

You can find out more about their programs by visiting http://www.youthuprising.org/

August 21, 2017
3 Tacos To Eat #3 – Oakland California

1. Tacos Sinaloa (Carnitas)

2138 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94606

One of the most popular taco destinations in Oakland for good reason. The 2 orange trucks that bookend the parking lot on 23rd Ave and International Blvd welcome all in need of a taco fix. Tacos Sinaloa’s carnitas taco tops the list this month. Crispy, crispy carnitas (fried pork) topped with cilantro, onions, and a mild red salsa. Take a seat at one of the tables (equipped with tapatio) and enjoy.

2. Belly (Cali Taco)

1901 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

Belly’s Cali Taco (pictured on the Left) comes in at number 2 this month. The Cali Taco features house marinated steak, fries, guacamole, pico de gallo, spicy sour cream, and shredded cheddar cheese. And I know what you’re thinking… fries on tacos? Yes! fries on tacos. That is just one of the layers that make up this dish, and they all work together to deliver an amazing burst of flavors. Definitely not a traditional taco, but definitely delicious.

3. Tacos El Grullo (Chorizo)

27th Ave and international Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601

Not to be confused with Taqueria El Grullo on 26th Ave and Foothill Blvd, which may make another list :). Tacos El Grullo is tucked behind an office building on International blvd and 27th Ave. Just follow the arrow on the red and white sign on the corner. This month, Tacos El Grullo’s chorizo taco gets our 3rd spot. Spicy chorizo topped with finely chopped onion, cilantro, and a green salsa. If you only judged by the lines at lunch you would know this is a spot worth checking out. Once you have sampled this busy taco truck, you’ll know why people keep coming back.

That’s our list for the month!!! Check out previous lists and other articles on our blog.

3 Tacos to Eat is a regular blog series highlighting our favorite tacos for the month. Restaurants and tacos are selected by a combination of Editors at Comeeda as well as surveys and opinions from tacophiles from our community. Lists can be grouped by taco fillings, neighborhood, city, and more. New list every month. Check out our blog for past lists, other taco related articles, profiles, recipes, and more. Follow us on Instagram — @tacos.comeeda

Like the list? Did we miss your favorite spot? Let’s taco bout it 🙂 Comment below.

January 30, 2017