Bomb. Just bomb. Asada is perfectly seasoned. The texture of the puffy taco, crisp with a soft center and wraps just right around the asada, lettuce, cheese and salsa. Always greeted and welcomed by the owner(s). Been coming here for years and will continue to do so. read more

Arturo's Puffy Taco - Asada Puffy Tacos, Strips Texanos and Taquitos. - Mexican Near Me - Whittier, California

In Tex-Mex cuisine, puffy tacos hail from San Antonio, Texas. As the name implies, the tacos get their name from the puffed, airy texture of the taco shell. Whether made from flour or corn, the tortilla is fried until it puffs up, creating a crispy shell with light, airy pockets--like a cross between flatbread and traditional tortilla. On this visit, I tried a ground beef, carne asada and carnitas taco. I also tried the taquitos Texanos. The taquitos were decent but nothing special. A tortilla was rolled into a tube, stuffed with ground beef, and deep-fried. The beef was a bit dry and lacked distinctive seasoning. The taqueria's salsa verde, sometimes called salsa falsa, was also lacking in flavor. Of the three tacos I tried, the carne asada and carnitas were the best. The ground beef is very traditional. The carne asada had a decent sear to it. The carnitas verged on being a bit over cooked, but were otherwise tender. Each taco was topped with shredded lettuce and cheese. read more

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I know I'm going to have to come back to order the carne asada puffy tacos to give this place another try. I think ordering the regular(?) puffy tacos was my mistake. Don't get me wrong, it was okay. Just not what I was expecting. I was craving crunchy beef tacos and figured I'd finally try this place out. Puffy taco shell was good and so were the toppings. It was just that the ground beef was so mushy lol not my thanggggg. I will say that service was so quick! Nice people working here also. Outdoor and indoor seating available! I appreciate how clean and well stocked the restroom was too. Bring cash! This place is cash only. read more

Arturo's Puffy Taco - Puffy tacos - Mexican Near Me - Whittier, California

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Cash only! There's an atm inside. Great solid food! Ordered the asada puffy tacos; steak is chopped into bite sized pieces. Also ordered the ground beef puffy tacos; you do have to eat these quicker because it does make the shell soggy. The shell on the puffy tacos is light and flaky! I would choose the assada over the ground beef. Crispy tacos are perfectly cooked and also light and flaky! Rice and beans are solid but nothing special or unique about them. Plenty of seating; modest restaurant that lets the food do the talking. Staff was super friendly! read more

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Food was delicious. Had the taco combo plate with original ground beef puffy taco, rice and beans. Plus the taquitos with avocado sauce. Tacos - they were delicious and wheel was nothing like I've had. Thicker corn tortilla but nothing like puffy tacos I've had in Arizona. Taquitos - homemade and delicious as well. Avocado sauce needed some spice/salsa. I love the Olvera street taquitos and sauce but this was a blander version. Would I come again. Absolutely. Staff were friendly and love to try other meats for the tacos. Tip- bring your cash (cash only) and be prepared to eat outside. Seating inside is very limited. read more

Arturo's Puffy Taco - Mexican Near Me - Whittier, California

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I guess you should just stick with the puffy tacos. Taquitos or nothing more then ground beef with some kind of avocado sauce not even guacamole. Super salty they throw some pico de gallo on top of the rice not a good experience. read more

Arturo's Puffy Taco - Mystery meat - Mexican Near Me - Whittier, California

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Puffy tacos for the win! Thin crunchy shell filled with meat of choice with lettuce, cheese and salsa loaded on top! I got the carne asada, nice and grilled! I also got the carnitas, nice n juicy. There's only like 5 booths inside. A few picnic tables outside. You order at the front. read more

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Food was served fast and good food. I love the Original Puffy Taco. Staff is very friendly and makes you feel at home.Super Burrito is okay be careful with it contains lots of beans so it will fall apart. But overall good food. read more

Arturo's Puffy Taco - Super Burrito Beef Puffy taco - Mexican Near Me - Whittier, California

I came here for the first and wasn't disappointed. The spot was well maintained, clean, and staff very friendly. The food was so delicious, I had the puffy taco with picadillo and it was flavorful and taco crunchy. I'll definitely be back!! read more

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Note: Cash only, but there is an ATM inside. There's also a bathroom and a few seats if you want to eat in. What We Ordered: -Taco de Carne Asada $5.00 -Taco de Carnitas $4.75 -Taco de Carne Guisada $4.75 -Taco de Pollo $4.75 -Taco de Picadillo $4.50 I've had Arturo's on my list for a while. I called ahead to confirm their opening hours, as you never know with restaurants. The person who answered was very nice. I had a meeting nearby and brought my wife along to try their tacos afterward. I asked for recommendations, and the staff member was patient and suggested some popular items. I was told the Taco de Carne Asada and Taco de Picadillo were their best sellers. We were also recommended something with Guisada, but we opted for the Taco de Carne Guisada instead. My wife and I were very hungry and decided to order every puffy taco to see what we liked best. Here's how we ranked them: Our favorite was the Carne Guizada, followed by the Carne Asada. The Picadillo was also good; we enjoyed the seasoned ground beef. My wife was neutral on the chicken, but I personally liked it. Surprisingly, the Carnitas was our least favorite; it wasn't seasoned as well as we expected, but the other four were great, and I recommend trying them. They come with "works," which include lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, thick-cut sharp cheddar, and a red sauce. They also gave us a green sauce on the side with a nice kick. I absolutely love the puffy tacos. Let's be honest, frying food is always a win. The fried puffy taco shell was unlike anything I've ever had. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. As a special welcome, they brought us two complimentary, homemade lemonades while we were enjoying our tacos. I recommend visiting Arturo's Puffy Tacos; you'll leave with a full belly and a smile. We ranked the Puffy Tacos in the following order: 1. Taco de Carne Guisada 2. Taco de Carne Asada 3. Taco de Picadillo 4. Taco de Pollo 5. Taco de Carnitas read more

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My friend decided we should come grab our lunch after pickleball at Leffingwell park. The taco shop is right inside a plaza with U-Haul. It's a store with long history and for its puffy tacos! Service is very friendly. Please note the parking is limited, and cash only! Vibe is traditional taco store with diner feel. We ordered taco de asada (beef), and taco de carnitas (pork)! Both are tasty and great for five bucks each. The taco is crunchy, and the ingredients they have is fresh and the meat is not the cheap one. Will be coming back for other yummy food when I am around this area! read more

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The BEST puffy TACO ever! It is so tasty, light crunch and one of the best tacos I've ever had. I highly recommend this place! The burritos are out of this world too! Worth the drive! Never had a taco shell like this! Unique. read more

Arturo's Puffy Taco - Mexican Near Me - Whittier, California

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DELICIOUS! I've been wanting to try this place for years... We happen to be in the neighborhood and we're driving by so we had to stop in!! we ordered the picadillo puffy tacos! Soooo good! Fresh and tasty! They are cash only! But they do have a ATM there.. they have other meat to try if you don't want ground beef... And a big menu, but we know that they're famous for the puffy tacos... We will definitely be back!! staff was super friendly :) can't wait to try more things on the menu read more

Arturo's Puffy Taco - Mexican Near Me - Whittier, California

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Old school since 1978. This is cash only establishment. It's been years since I was last here trying out their puffy tacos. This time around we ordered a bean & cheese burrito with onions and a bean & cheese veggie tostada and requested the hottest chili. There are plenty of tables inside and outside where you can enjoy your food. The burrito was a good size and the flavor was pretty good I enjoyed it. read more

Arturo's Puffy Taco - Saturday dinner JAN2026 - Mexican Near Me - Whittier, California

The ground beef puffy tacos are so good! This is a great neighborhood Mexican restaurant in the Whittier area. Shares their parking lot with U-Haul, with both indoor and outdoor seating areas. Staff were super friendly and we will definitely be back! read more

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Had a great time and the food was pretty good. The best part was the service. The daughter-in-law that worked the register was the BEST!! I would recommend you eat the Puffy there. By the time I got it home it was soggy and fell apart. There may not be many places to sit, but the parking is plentiful and you can eat in your car. The place is small, but it's cozy and you can just pick up your order and have a seat. It's a place you can eat some good Tex mex and just connect w friends n fam. read more

Cash Only. Plan ahead or use their ATM inside. This is a local fixture with much the following. We have e lived here 20 years and this is our second visit. Flavors are good. Wifey had carnitas taco and I had picadillo (ground beef). We had the order to go because we are a mile away. Hate to report the puffy taco shell gets a little soft after a ride home. Fries are good as are the taquitos. The green salsa is phenomenal. Over solid tastes good service and a local icon definitely worth a visit, but for us it's not going to be a monthly thing. read more

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so nostalgic and always soooo gooood. perfect crunch and flavor. service is always amazing. seating inside and outside. very limited parking spots though. read more

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Not sure if I came on a bad day after seeing all the really great reviews but my experience couldn't have been more different. Came during lunch with some coworkers and we ordered some of the original puffy tacos (ground beef), carnitas and asada. The ground beef one came sopping wet, so much so that the bottom lost its crisp and fell apart. The carnitas was a grayish color and the asada was really dry. I wouldn't come back here again myself since it was a pretty hefty price for a single taco. read more

Unique taco, haven't had these before. Food was great and the owner came over and talked to us for a bit about the history and other locations. read more

I was there last night, ordered a Puffy carne asada taco, 2 ground beef tacos, and 1 chicken combo burrito. The carne asada taco was un eatable, meat was like bad jerky. The ground beef tacos were fabulous, as was the chicken burrito. read more

"The Fluffiest Tacos in the Game!" If heaven had a drive-thru, I'm pretty sure they'd be serving Arturo's Fluffy Tacos. These things are next-level golden, crispy-yet-pillowy shells that hug that seasoned ground beef like it's their job (and they do it well). I ordered the ground beef fluffy tacos and I swear, the first bite had me questioning every other taco I've ever eaten. 10/10 The vibe inside? Straight-up good energy. The staff aren't just friendly, they're hype, like they actually want you to have the best day of your life while eating tacos. You walk in and instantly feel like family. If you've never had a "fluffy taco," prepare to have your taco standards permanently raised. I came for lunch and left plotting my return before dinner. read more

Arturo's Puffy Taco - Ground beef fluffy tacos & Onion rings! - Mexican Near Me - Whittier, California

When in the area Arturo's Puffy Taco always hits the spot when you're craving Tex-mex. It's a humble taco stand with limited seating and a walk-up window to order your food. The prices are reasonable and there's always a line of people waiting to satisfy their craving. read more

Arturo's Puffy Taco - Mexican Near Me - Whittier, California

They need to check/update their soda machine. Soda is always flat, no carbonation at all. Takes the thrill out of ordering a soda with your meal. Also, wish the green salsa was offered in a mild version. Otherwise, food is good and everyone is nice. read more

Amazing fresh Mexican food and service with a smile. The beautiful owner is so kind and takes pride in the food she serves. The tacos are the best! Had a puffy taco w ground beef which was perfection and a hard shell chicken taco. Fantastic! read more

Arturo's Puffy Taco - Mexican Near Me - Whittier, California

We usually order the asada puffy taco or the plate that comes with ground beef puffy taco, rice, beans/cheese, and tortilla chips. Their burger is also pretty decent. Cash only. They charge for sauces (each). Sometimes the puffy taco gets soggy quickly and falls apart. read more

If this was on diners, drive ins, or dives...this is a dive! It is a super tasty dive. Get your awesome food to go and it is a 5 star. When you get there you will see why. The puffy taco is completely unique around So Cal, you have to have one because it is that good....just eat it in your car. read more

Food is amazing my friend and I try to go at least once a week. We love the Tacos, crispy dogs, burritos and taquitos

3.85768 stars I've been waiting a very long time to go to Arturo's Puffy Taco and here I was in Whittier ready for Arturo's. It's a fast casual situation where you order at the window and seat yourself. Indoor seating is very limited where the tables and seats are interesting, but charming, and a little dilapidated? We ordered two infamous puffy tacos with picadillo or ground beef ($3.70). They come heaped with lettuce, cheese, salsa. They're quite substantial in size. Taste wise - they're a lot like Americanized tacos sans the sour cream, etc. The puffy tacos were giving what they needed to give - crunchy, cheesy, ground beef-ing. They're good and flavorful with a soft crunch from the puffy shell. Arturo's Puffy Taco was everything I thought it'd be and more. read more

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First time trying Arturo's Puffy Taco. It wasn't bad but it wasn't what I expected. I'd heard the taco shells are fried in a way that makes them....puffy. Sounded interesting, the two tacos I had didn't have puffy tortilla shells. They were still good. The taquitos were ok, obviously not real guacamole but still good. Glad I tried Arturo's but not sure I'd rush back. The young lady who took my order was very nice and very polite, always a plus. The lady who gave me my order was also very nice. There are a few tables outside and tables in the small dining room which was clean. This place only takes cash but they have an ATM in the dining room if needed. The service fee to use this machine is $3.50. As I said, glad I stopped by Arturo's and would possibly stop in again and try something else. read more

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Cashier was nice and respectful- establishment was clean- service was quick- I ordered the red burrito with rice- the flavor was good but tooooi salty!! It would be delicious if it wasn't so salty! I tried both the red and green salsa on tortilla chips we had at home and both were spicy and delicious. I've tried their tacos in the past and they were pretty good. Would I order the burrito again? Probably not. read more

Arturo's Puffy Taco - Red burrito with rice - Mexican Near Me - Whittier, California

Good and friendly service. Food is fresh and may take a bit but not long. Very casual place with a few indoor seating and tables outside. read more

Arturo's Puffy Taco - Mexican Near Me - Whittier, California

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If you come to Whittier, this is the spot. Says Food Network. Pretty good but very messy! Be careful ask for napkins! read more

Arturo's Puffy Taco - Very good but very messy! Be careful ask for napkins! - Mexican Near Me - Whittier, California

Puffy tacos remind me of Navajo tacos aka Indian tacos but crunchier, we decided to give it a try. We ordered every flavor meat except the carnitas and by far the carne guizada was the best. It's described as stew meat, or in my opinion beef in red chili sauce (not spicy at all). Simple establishment with a small seating area inside and one outside. Glad we finally stopped by. read more

Arturo's Puffy Taco - Mexican Near Me - Whittier, California

Since 1978, Arturo's Puffy Taco has been serving up its own version of Tex-Mex, with a unique twist on the tortillas. Quite possibly, the most well-known eatery in Whittier. Their puffy taco is famous. The ground beef puffy taco is the number one bestseller, followed by the carne asada. I ordered both with salsa on the side. i also got the Bean & Cheese Burrito. Everything was good, including the salsa. There is an atm inside, which is convenient because its cash only here. The service is friendly and there's plenty of parking. Arturo's is worth a visit. read more

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First thing to know, this is a CASH ONLY food stand, but they do have an ATM inside if you need it... If it's your first visit to Puffy Taco you MUST get their famous Puffy Taco! They are sooooo good and unique! They also have the best avocado cream sauce! This place has been here forever and was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. It's a small walk up place where you order through a window, and everything they serve is delicious! It's family owned with long time recipes that are really good! We love the Puffy Tacos and the Taquitos Texanos! Then we usually get something else different each time! Definitely worth the trip! read more

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Great good! Great service. Cash only unfortunately however I'm happy to stop in for a taco when I have a few dollars. Staff is always friendly. read more

4+ This place is known for their puffy tacos - a popular Tex-Mex food item invented by the family in San Antonio and the item (and a some of the family) eventually found their way to Southern California. I'm not a historian, so I will get back to the restaurant/ food. The shell of the puffy taco is a fried disc of masa until it puffs up and out so it could hold the fillings and toppings. If you like crispy hard shell tacos, but wish there was a slight chew, this is probably the food item for you! Been on my list of (taco) places to try for awhile. It's a bit far from where I live, but not too far from where I'm working at the moment. Decided to come here for dinner one night. The place itself is kind of a small restaurant/ food stand complete with ordering window. There's some seating on the inside/ outside, but not a lot. Because it is like a fast casual / ordering window spot, the interaction with the folks was limited, but they were friendly and helpful. I ordered: A taco de Picadillo (ground beef) and a taco de carne asada. I figured these were the most popular items. I enjoyed the different texture this taco has and the tacos here had definitely an old school taste /flavor to them. I could see why this place is popular for this unique take on one of my favorite foods. I also got the taquitos w/ avocado sauce. Freshly prepared and crispy. Great flavor and the mild sauce is such a great pairing to this. A little difficult to get out here from where I live but definitely a great spot I would go to if I were in the area. read more

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Amazing food! Definitely recommend to anyone. Only down fall is they are a cash only business.

I have always wanted to try this Whittier landmark: Arturo's Puffy Tacos. I am never in the area enough to stop by until last week. Puffy tacos are good! Do yourself a favor get the salsa "on the side". Less messy and won't get as soggy if you add the salsa yourself. Green salsa is spicy and pretty good. The red salsa taste like a fresh version of Pace Picante jar stuff; not bad, it works for this type of Americanized Tex-Mex tacos. Cash only and there is an ATM inside. Service was polite and food comes out quickly. read more

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