I went on a little self-led tour de tacos in Puerto Vallarta last night and made a few stops with El Carboncito being one of them. Upon walking in, I immediately had a sense of Deja vu and knew I had been there before, which should have been my first warning since I usually have a good memory for places I've been and enjoyed. It's open (only) late and has both indoor and outdoor seating. The woman working was reasonably nice but nothing to write home about. Unfortunately they didn't have any Al pastor when I went but I ordered a chorizo and an arrechera, both $25 pesos a pop. The chorizo was more like a chopped up hot dog and I found the arrechera to be very dry. Neither taco had a lot of meat. The tortilla was unexciting and under-grilled. The salsa was excellent however. I wouldn't go back - there are so many excellent tacos in the area at or around the same price. read more

The best al pastor tacos, so yummy! Seating is limited, so go early. I would order a few, there will be a line. What are al pastor tacos? Al pastor are a beloved Mexican street food featuring thinly sliced, marinated pork. The pork is carved off the spit directly into corn tortillas and topped with fresh pineapple, onions, and cilantro. Definitely going back for more! @norivedanaturals read more

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Came here right at 7 pm since I heard it gets busy and it was empty exactly at 7 pm. My party got seated on the sidewalk and we ordered in English immediately. Our server was very enthusiastic and kind and went through the menu for us to understand. It did take a long time for the tacos to come out but my entire party agreed this was the best tacos we've had in puerto Vallarta! They were smaller than I expected but still delicious and affordable. They also had beers but no cocktails of course so I went elsewhere afterwards for cocktails. There was a huge line by the time we finished our tacos so I recommend coming exactly at 7 pm. Bathroom was clean and was a single stall in the back of the restaurant. read more

El Carboncito - Mexican Near Me - Puerto Vallarta, JAL

We just happened on this place . It was busy and we actually ended up sitting at Pez taco (specializing in seafood) next door, but we're told we could order from both. The Al pastor tacos were good and the price was right. Service was okay. It says that they take credit cards but we had to pay in cash. read more

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My husband loved the El Pastor so much he ordered more. They were very busy so you know they had to be good. Due to health issues I only eat chicken or fish so I was out of luck. I like that you sit outside. Enjoy read more

Bomb diggity pastor!! So yummy!! The family who runs this place is super sweet! Get there right at 7pm, when they open! It fills up fast! read more

El Carboncito - Al Pastor - Mexican Near Me - Puerto Vallarta, JAL

Stopped in after having fish tacos next door lol. This place is pretty highly rated and the tacos were pretty good! Theyre a little on the small side so maybe order 1.5-2x what you normally would. The salsas here were to die for-- much better than any of the other taco spots I visited. My one issue was that the tortillas weren't toasted so if you like them crispy probably not your best bet. read more

BEST. TACOS. PERIOD. I've tried them all. The service was absolutely incredible. Food comes out quickly and the staff is absolutely amazing and very attentive. I am not your normal person leaving a review... we live in Puerto Vallarta and I'm pretty sure we have tried every single taco place including the little taco stands on the street corners as well as all of the other restaurants. It's located very close to the beach so when your belly is super full after eating too many tacos, it's nice to take a little walk on the beach. read more

El Carboncito - Tacos, patio, amazing service. - Mexican Near Me - Puerto Vallarta, JAL

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Best al pastor tacos. Nice to sit outside. Friendly staff. Seems like lots of locals eat there. read more

El Carboncito - Al pastor taco meat - Mexican Near Me - Puerto Vallarta, JAL

Fabulous beach side spot. The staff is very helpful and friendly. We had Al pastor and carnitas. The corn tortillas arrived just as they opened. The tortillas are street sized, fresh and delicious. My only regret is that they didn't serve two tacos per portion. This led to some breakage and grief read more

Los tacos de al pastor son muy deliciosos. Las salsa bien picosas. Todos los tacos servidos en una sola tortilla. No doble. Solo si lo pides. Las otras carnes les faltó sabor. Pero, les repito. Las de el pastor están riquísimas!! read more

Delicious authentic mexican tacos! Best I've had maybe ever! Great prices! Fast service! I'll definitely be back before I leave

Absolutely amazing! These pastor tacos were the best we had here in Puerto Vallarta! I highly recommend this spot. The service was fantastic and the prices were cheap! 20 tacos, agua de Jamaica and a beer for $30 US dollars. Limited seating but we arrived right when they opened so we didn't have any difficulties. We will be eating there again! read more

Very good tacos. Less expensive than nearby street vendors and much tastier. About 10 tables total. Good service too. Definitely would return. read more

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Best tacos of my life - especially the Al pastor or the alambre for a larger / shareable order. Service is fast, everything is very clean. Low key vibes, reasonably priced, and above all delicious. We enjoyed relaxing there for an hour or two while we ate our tacos. Highly recommend the churro spot on the corner two blocks away for dessert! read more

Very nice and quick service. Super cheap especially for the location, but don't be fooled, these tacos are so freaking good. I ordered the tacos al pastor and arrachera. Both were good but their al pastor was so freaking amazing, specially paired with some of their spicy sauce. Around $1 per taco. Highly recommend read more

El Carboncito - 2 asada 1 al pastor - Mexican Near Me - Puerto Vallarta, JAL

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By far my fav taco spot in puerto Vallarta and ice cold beers! Service is always fast and friendly!

Love the pastor tacos. Tried Tio Pepe's and prefer here. We had pastor tacos and agua fresca. Ate here three days in a row.

My life was changed by their flank steak quesadilla, delicious! This place like many restaurants is tucked away but once you find it you're in for a treat. We tried a little bit of everything but their quesadilla was by far the best, their tortas were also filling and tasty. Seating is mainly outside along the side walk but there are a few tables inside. Definitely give it a try if you're in the area. read more

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Best tacos we had in PV! No frills, quick service, and very affordable. Fresh pastor charcoal-grilled, and the slicer is an artist. Definitely worth the visit! read more

There is pastor and then there is pastor. Now, this isn't the best pastor taco (including sauce and toppings) I have ever had, BUT it is probably the very best pastor meat I have ever had. The charcoal is definitely putting its flavor in the best possible way into the meat and it is beautifully carved straight from spit to tortilla. Then there is the whole open concept where you see the whole process of the end-stage of preparation including that nonchalant cut of pineapple as a final touch. This is a place I will most definitely return to. read more

El Carboncito - Mexican Near Me - Puerto Vallarta, JAL

We've been in PV for a week and we're trying to eat as many tacos as we can and this place, hands down, has had the best of any we've tried. The pastor tacos are out of this world. read more

El Carboncito is a small local joint known for their Al Pastor, grilled pork . This place is frequented by many locals. The kitchen area is outside where they cook the meat. We sat outside on the plastic chairs and someone will come by to take your order. They don't speak English but they understand a few basic words. I highly recommend getting the roasted onion bulbs with your tacos. It is a game changer. They bring your plate of tacos to you. I like how they only use 1 tortilla per taco. Unlike the US the tacos have 2 tortillas which makes them super filling. The Al Pastor tacos come with the meat, a slice of pineapple, chopped onions & cilantro. They also have a salsa bar to dress up your taco however you like. The Al Pastors pack a punch of flavor. The meat was tender & juicy and the pineapple provided a sweet tangy twist to it. I can't forget about the onion bulb. I take a bite of that before my bite of taco. It provides a nice crunchy texture to the taco. I got 5 tacos and they were less than 20 pesos each. If you plan on ordering a lot, stagger out your orders so you can have fresh ones! I think my fave Al Pastor place in San Diego, Tacos El Gordo has been de-throned by El Carboncito! It was so damn good, I came here twice, literally. read more

El Carboncito - Al Pastor taco, get the onion bulb! - Mexican Near Me - Puerto Vallarta, JAL

These are among the best tacos I have had in Puerto Vallarta. As good as Pancho's Tacos without the long lines and the hype! You will be sitting outside in plastic chairs next to where they cook the tacos. It's across from the beach and we'll worth a trip from the Romantic Zone. Just go here! read more

El Carboncito has some of the best taco value in PVR, and while cheap, their product is worth a stop. Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere? El Carboncito is nothing fancy, but this is a place where locals go. The chairs are plastic, the whole shop is pretty much outside, and you won't see too many Tommy Bahama tourist shirts in line. That's a good thing when it comes to taco stands. Star. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? 15,00 MXP is the cheapest price point I've seen for street tacos just about anywhere, and it's worth pointing out that these aren't tiny little single bit tacos. There isn't as much meat in the mix as what you'll find at Pancho's or Pepe's, but these tacos are real. Star. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? I was pleased with the pastor tacos at El Carboncito. The pastor itself was very good with my one complaint being that there wasn't a whole lot of pastor per taco (I would have loved an extra meat option), and while the tortillas didn't floor me, the fiery salsas made up for it. Single Star. Star 5: Would you be excited to go back? Best value in PVR. Star. read more

El Carboncito - Pastor Tacos: 15,00 MXP each - Mexican Near Me - Puerto Vallarta, JAL

We always go here! The food and ambience is amazing. The price is very good and the Jamaica is to die for.

Coming from LA and spoiled by good food galore, we all agreed that this was the best taco spot in PV. The end.

If you want the real deal this place is a must. We came here on a food tour a couple years ago and I couldn't wait to make this my first meal upon returning to PV. You can either sit outside and eat your tacos or you can sit in an area where a waitress can keep bringing tacos to your table. They have beer and bottled water too. read more

El Carboncito - Mexican Near Me - Puerto Vallarta, JAL

We only had the Al Pastor tacos, but they are unmatched! Super cheap food and fun to sit on the street as well. read more

El Carboncito - Al Pastor tacos - Mexican Near Me - Puerto Vallarta, JAL

Definitely a must while you're in Vallarta. I recommend the Volcanes al Pastor. We all loved it! Very small and kind of hard to get to but it's delicious read more

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Best Al Pastor taco I've ever had. I could eat here every day and never get sick of it! Compared to Pepe's Tacos (which is where everyone we talked to told us to go), which was good but El Carboncito was better-hands down! read more

This place is in downtown near the beach and is jumping with folks all night long. Its a relatively small spot for large parties but we were lucky to get a bunch of tables next to each other. My table of 5 alone crushed 80+ tacos of all different meats and it wasn't even $15 USD each. Quick service got us everything we needed salsa and sides. FYI - The gringa is a taco with chesse. =) Go get some! read more

Omg best al pastor tacos I have had hands down in decades. Make sure to get a gringo as well. While in the wall place. read more

El Carboncito - Tacos al pastor, gringo taco y tacos de asada. - Mexican Near Me - Puerto Vallarta, JAL

Excellent! We stopped to have a couple tacos for a snack. Very good. Small three bite tacos but great flavor and inexpensive. I like these tacos better than Pepe's which is what was recommended. read more

The best pastor taco in Puerto Vallarta !! And cheapest taco. We tried Pepe's tacos on same street as well as named 'something Julio' on the Conner. This place is way better than any other place. I feel so sad that we tried this place in very last night in Puerto Vallarta. read more

El Carboncito - Store name and menu on the wall (inside of store) - Mexican Near Me - Puerto Vallarta, JAL

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The best tacos in PV! The lines get really long so plan on getting there right when it opens. It's a hole in the wall kinda place so really no "ambiance". read more

This place was recommended to us by a taxi driver on our first visit to Puerto Vallarta back in 2016. The tacos here are so good and so cheap. I take it as a good sign that the food is actually good when you see a lot of locals here. So good that we made sure to come back when we returned in 2018. Some of the best tacos we had on our trip for super super cheap. Very friendly staff that didn't make us feel intimidated at all. And it's near the boardwalk!Highly recommend! read more

We came here looking for late night food around midnight on a Saturday. The tacos were pretty weak. Not enough meat. I think because they were running out of food by the time we showed up since they started cooking at 7pm. But the lady serving was super sweet and at least hooked it up with the fixings. And also the tacos are 15 pesos so can't really complain. read more

Having lived in LA for the majority of my adult life, I always thought I was spoiled when it came to Mexican food. And it's true, LA is arguably the best in the United States. But I came to Mexico and visited multiple taco spots on my trip to Puerto Vallarta and realized LA is just above average. Most of the spots in PV are similar to some of the best spots in LA but El Carboncito is on a completely different level. And had I not been on an ATV trip where a local recommended this place, I would have never known so props to that guy for suggesting his favorite, local spot. My group of 8 friends hit up the other two commonly mentioned top tier spots - Panchos and Pepe's. The former is some of the best al pastor I've ever had and the latter has one of the best tortillas I've ever had - El Carboncito has both. I've eaten a fair amount of tacos in my life and I can confidently say El Carboncito is the best I've ever had. Panchos and Pepe are both 100% percent worth going to but El Carboncito takes the cake. read more

We asked the taxi driver where are good street tacos and he brought us here. Wow.. blew our socks off delicious. I ordered al pastor and I can see the guys slicing the meat off the reel and also slicing a little piece of pineapple. It takes awhile to get your food but when it come oh man! read more

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