The carne asada burrito was completely packed with tender, grilled meat and fresh salsa. I also really liked their crispy tortilla chips because the spicy red sauce had a great kick. read more

Someone's abuela is rolling in her grave right now. "No mijo.... This is not it!" I needed a quick lunch, did a quick search, and El Fuego popped up. I wasn't expecting greatness, but I also wasn't expecting bad Chipotle energy... and yet, here we are. I ordered three street tacos and a bean burrito. The carnitas taco was impressive in a very specific way. The pieces that weren't straight-up jerky somehow turned to dust in my mouth. No seasoning, no char, just dry sadness. The salsa verde pork taco was aggressively salty, but at least it had some flavor. Points for effort, I guess. The asada taco was easily the best of the three, which is a polite way of saying it was merely less disappointing. Still dry, still under-seasoned, but compared to the others it felt like a small victory. Now, it's hard to mess up a bean burrito, but they gave it a solid attempt. The beans were extremely reminiscent of Taco Bell's finest... you know, the rehydrated chalk they confidently call beans. Across the board, flavor was basically on vacation. And the dining area looked like it could really benefit from a deep clean. read more

Wow. I was visiting town for work and looked up some Mexican food. After ignoring multiple red flags, I am now dealing with the aftermath, if you know what I mean... Typically, I don't blast restaurant owners or institutions, but I have to be honest and be the hero that everyone needs but, no one wants. Seeing it from across the street, it appeared dead with poor lighting. Flag number one. After verifying the door actually opened, I approached the front counter. After 3 employees walked past like zombies (flag number 2), I finally had to yell out for someone to take my order. Flag number 3. The cashier asked what I wanted- told him it was my first time there, and asked him for recommendations. His answer was "they're all the same" flag number 4. I got a steak and egg burrito. After taking my order he yelled to the back cook "steak and egg burrito". Flag number 5. Then proceeded to charge me. After about 20 min of waiting, I'm thinking to myself "wow, fresh food! At least it's going to be gooooooood". Apparently he called my name for my order but I was unaware. Meanwhile, he's just staring at my burrito waiting for me. Flag number 6. The only item that appeared fresh was the lettuce. The tomato was transparent and looked previously frozen and the corn looked gooey, red flag number 7. At this point, I wanted to follow through with my order when I generally would just cancel. I had meetings scheduled and was hungry so I continued forward. When we got to the guac, he said "want guac?" I said "yes". He then said "it's extra". I asked him genuinely confused as to why he wouldn't tell me that when I paid, and I would've paid. He said "oh I didn't know you wanted guac". Red flag number 8. At this point I'm like WTF? they should tell customers that extra condiments are extra $ at the time of payment. I'm going to be nice and not say what I really thought of him. Most of the good reviews are more than 3 + years old. I'm sure at one point, locals were happy to have them there. But READ ALL THE RECENT REVIEWS. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS TYPE OF EXPERIENCE. It's sad and disappointing that the ONE customer they had there received this type of experience. NO WONDER THIS SPOT HAD ALL THESE EMPTY TABLES. The place is NASTYYYYY, GROSS, HAZARDOUS, and I'm calling county health department because they shouldn't be in operation after what I saw. FYI, I had one bite of my burrito and almost threw up. The "fries" were nasty and soggy, egg was bland, and steak was dry like it was cooked and frozen, and cooked again. NASTY! I tossed my burrito after that first bite. I genuinely hope you (owners) remember how you go to the point of owning a restaurant. Put a little more passion into the nasty food you serve. Good luck passing your County Inspections. If this gets deleted, I'll just repost. Pic of receipt as proof. Ewwww read more

El Fuego Express - Proof I was there for the worst experience in Sacramento so far... smh. Do not go here. - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

Love this place, the staff is super friendly and the option to customize your order ensures you get exactly what you want. We ordered the el fuego burrito, carne asada quesadilla, and carne asada fries - would definitely order again! Love that they are open on some weekends, specifically on busy sac weekends like Sac Anime and Chalk It Up! Great seating inside and option to sit outside too! read more

El Fuego Express - Carne Asada Fries - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

My coworker recommended this spot for lunch, and I was impressed! It's a fast-casual Mexican spot comparable to Chipotle, however, I definitely love El Fuego a lot more! I got the burrito bowl where I opted for their steak, Spanish rice, yellow onions, cilantro, black beans, jalapeños, and guac on top. It was the perfect mixture and I even had leftovers for a snack the next day! My only ding would be the price as my burrito bowl with guac ended up costing over $18 which is a bit pricey for lunch. read more

El Fuego Express - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

El Fuego Express is right outside the convention center near Subway and a Halal spot. Every other place had long lines but this one barely had any, which should have told me everything. We ordered steak fries and a sausage breakfast burrito and both were bad. The burrito tasted plain and cheap, nothing you would want to go out for, and the steak in the fries had a weird taste like it had been sitting all day. The fries themselves were not fresh and the sauces were watered down and gross. For fifteen dollars a plate the food should have at least been decent, but it was the opposite. They even ask for a tip at the counter before you get your food which feels wrong when the quality is this low. I ended up sick with a stomach ache and headache for the rest of the day. This place is not worth the money and I would not recommend it at all. read more

El Fuego Express- located on J street across from the Sheraton hotel. Figured I would try it out. I got the chicken wrap. Which was delicious. It had a chipotle sauce that was so good, chicken, tomotoes, sour cream, lettuce, cheese, pico! It was also huge! Will definitely come back to try a breakfast burrito! read more

El Fuego Express - Chicken wrap - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

El Fuego Express is one of my regular spots for lunch due to the convenient location in the heart of downtown Sacramento. This location provided ample seating both indoor and outdoor and is a great option if you want quick flavorful meal. Orders are "chipotle style" where you can select your choice of meat, beans, rice and extras to prepare your order exact to your desire. I normally opt for the two taco combo plate and quality has always been consistently good and the staff is always very friendly. Has a complimentary salsa bar is always clean refilled frequently and has a fountain drink machine with all the extra combinations for your soft drink preference (ie Cherry + Vanilla Pepsi) Check it out! read more

El Fuego Express - 2 Tacos Combo - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

Stopped by for a quick lunch and I really enjoyed my bowl. The portion size was perfect and the flavor was perfect. I love that they have a self serve salsa bar! Service was fast and super friendly. A great spot for a quick bite with a decent amount of seating inside. I would definitely go back. read more

El Fuego Express - Build your own Asada Bowl - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

Service and food were incredible. Went here because it was across from my hotel and the good reviews. Probably the best burrito I've ever had. For real this place is fire. I did the Cali Burrito with Guac. I have to be careful what I eat and the woman at the counter was very patient and helpful so not sure what the last review was about. I was here at 2pm. 100% recommended. read more

El Fuego Express - Cali burrito with guac - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

I got the 2 taco combo plate with one chicken taco and one asada taco with cilantro, onion, and mild salsa. The food was high quality and they were generous with portions. They grill the meat outside the restaurant and the inside of the restaurant was very clean. They have lots of tables and the service was fast and friendly. I definitely recommend coming here for lunch during the week if you are downtown. read more

El Fuego Express - 2 taco combo plate (1 chicken 1 steak) with refried beans and spanish rice - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

al pastor burrito was massive, meat had that nice char and the pineapple gave it the perfect sweetness. the guy at the counter was super chill, let me sample the salsas before picking. tiny spot with a few stools, exactly what you want for a quick lunch downtown. read more

Would love to have a better experience to rate, but I came in at 2:45 and they said they were closed. I asked when they closed, and they replied at 3. Ok, and it's before 3....So I looked at her and she just kind of shrugged. If that's the policy that's fine, just done have 3 as the time posted. Super frustrating when I got ready and headed out specifically to this place because of the positive Yelp reviews. read more

El Fuego Express - the outside of a restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

My friend and I shared the Carne Asada Fries. It was huge. Every bite was so delicious. A new favorite lunch spot. read more

El Fuego Express - Carne Asada Fries - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

Food is great, highly recommend their breakfast burritos. Also, their tacos are really good as well. Salsas are nice and spicy.

Service was fast and easy, everything inside was clean and nice but I didn't find the food to be very flavorful. It looked so good and even now looking at my picture it looks delicious but I didn't love it. Might have to try it again because I see lots of positive reviews. read more

El Fuego Express - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

Absolutely is amazing every time! No matter what I get, it's aways a 10/10! The staff is always so nice and welcoming, and the prices are so reasonable! read more

Sheesh tell em to bring out thee whole ocean. The restaurant is very clean and nice. Their choice of music is amazing and reminds me of my grandmas house. O how I miss my abuelita. Anyways service is great and very polite. I don't usually give tips but this place wholeheartedly deserved it. THE FOOD WAS ULTIMATE BUSSSS. My Barrito only had a few seconds of life before BOOM gone. Overall I recommend this place and believe that this is the best Mexican food in sac!!!!!!!! read more

El Fuego Express - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

This is a better version of chipotle. Authentic food. Go and eat here. They also cater events. Tacos were great. Go eat here why are you wasting time reading this you should be in line ordering some tacos already. read more

Huge portions and very nice people! I ordered the shrimp burrito, and it was really good. I normally can finish my burritos, but I couldn't finish this one in one sitting. Leftovers! read more

We used them for a catering lunch a few weeks ago! Definitely recommend! They were easy to order, on time and the portions were huge! We had a ton of leftovers. We will definitely be using them again! read more

El Fuego Express - Asada Burrito Bowl - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

Very delicious! Stopped in for a quick lunch after grocery shopping. They're counter Service, and the associates were very helpful. You get to choose what you want in your order which is a nice change. I got the super burrito with chicken. The chicken was very flavorful. They have a chips and salsa bar as well. The mild salsa was full of flavor and actually mild. Definitely will come back for sure read more

Service was friendly and prompt, but carnitas was dry and not very flavorful. For the price (~$19 out the door for a super burrito) this was underwhelming. read more

My first time here. Walked to it for a lunch break from the court house. They have a good menu, very easy to read. You order your food - I got a super nacho with chicken. They put the chips and then whatever meat choice you have with cheese on top of that and pop it in a quick oven to melt the cheese. Then you move down the line and pick what other toppings you want on it. Everything looked fresh and tasted fresh. I very much enjoyed my nachos but it was huge. My suggestion is to share those. Next time I'm trying the three taco deal. read more

El Fuego Express - Chicken nachos. Very good! - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

This was my first time going to this place. Place is clean, staff are nice, food was cooked quickly, they provide water cups and chips and salsa. Went to the bathroom, no code needed and the bathroom was clean. I got my food in 5-10 minutes. It was sooo good. I ordered a burrito it had fries inside . But let me tell you the flavor of that burrito was it. I enjoyed every bite I will be back again for lunch. Thank you! read more

Quick service, clean facility, tasty food. We ordered steak tacos w beans and rice, a burrito, and a quesadilla

Decent spot to grab lunch if in the area and need a quick bite. Think chipotle style (go down the line and pick what items you want in your bowl, burrito, etc) but a better flavor. Portion sizes are pretty small regarding the bowl- for two people total was $22.00 for two bowls one shrimp, one chicken and waters for drinks. There was a slight line during lunch time but it moved quickly. Staff was friendly. They have indoor and outdoor seating available. It is located across the street from the Sheraton hotel. read more

Great food! Chips and salsa available self serve. I was glad to order takeout online.

Update: was just advised by mngr that although not yet on the menu, they do have breakfast burritos. Yay! Constant evolution. Fun express lunch spot in the heart of downtown. Great food. Good prices. They are open in the morning. Just wish they had breakfast items. read more

El Fuego Express - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

I ordered the burrito bowl with carnitas and it was excellent! The staff was also friendly

I really like this restaurant and I always go and I tip. There is a woman who is not fair with what you order! Recently I had a breakfast burrito with extra bacon. There was not extra bacon! The bacon was more like bacon bits! No matter how much you pay extra or not she doesn't know how to give the right portion. Sometimes I have been there 3 times in one week. It's sad because she's the only one like that! The others give a decent portion. I will have to find another spot! read more

Everyone is mindful of looking for the best bang for your buck with post-COVID inflation prices. They have a chipotle style system where you pick what you want or instead you can order a speciality burrito. Unlike Chipotle, El Fuego doesn't skimp on the portions. This burrito was massive and I felt it was a great price. The Ingredients were quality and fresh. Definitely recommend this place, and it's extremely convenient if you are staying across the street at the Sheraton. read more

El Fuego Express - El Fuego Super Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

Came during a conference based on all the Yelp reviews. Food and portion size was great. Will be returning-

July 30, 2021 Updated comment nine hundred eighteen. Across from excellent Sheraton Grand Sacramento. It is about two thirty in the afternoon. I am writing this to inform it looks dark as in looks closed down. The bartender and I are looking at the place right now. IT LOOKS CLOSED DOWN. I THE TIGER REPEATS, IT LOOKS DARK AS IN CLOSED DOWN. The bartender says has been about three months since he last saw people try to go in this place. My first two has Six Votes and Fifteen Votes! read more

Fast friendly service and good food. Stopped by for lunch with a coworker and got the steak bowl. Fresh ingredients and decent serving sizes. Will definitely return. read more

This review is overdue. First off, let me say that I almost never give out a "five star" review. A business has to do some very subtle things (on top of doing all the major things correctly) to set themselves apart and get the five star rating in my book. I am a burrito guy. No two ways about it. Honestly, a good burrito might be my favorite food. El Fuego Express is conveniently located just around the corner from my office, so I can easily walk there on lunch break. But convenience aside, they just happen to make an amazing burrito. They do not skimp on ingredients... but they also do not overload the burrito. Their ingredients are always fresh. They have a couple unique "dressings" that you can add to the burrito to kick the flavor up a notch (I enjoy the chipotle dressing they have available). And, on top of that, they are reasonably priced and their service is expedited while remaining accurate and maintaining a close attention to detail. Lastly, their staff is awesome. Seriously, let me say it one more time, the staff there is AWESOME. I admit that I am now a "regular" so we all have a familiarity with each other. But even before I became a regular, they seemed to genuinely know me and care which makes a very big impact. Example - I saw them in early January of 2019 and mentioned that my family and I were taking a trip to Disneyland very soon. They wished me the best. Fast forward to the very end of January and I made my first trip back in nearly a month. Do you know what the staff asked me? "How was your trip to Disneyland? Did you guys have fun?". It might not seem like much... but in today's world, these little things make a huge difference in my book. Thank you for being a great spot to eat at, El Fuego. I look forward to continuing to be a regular. read more

Carnitas was very salty, l couldn't eat the second taco. Refried beans were tasty, chips were free, so I filled up on that and the rice. Meh. read more

Went here for lunch with my friends. Food was good but the service is almost non-existent. I feel so sorry for the one lady taking care of everything from serving food to minding the cash register. When I asked her if she's doing everything- she nodded and said she cooks too. What the heck happened with management? I give this young lady 5 stars and the owner- 1 star. Won't be back. That was my first and last visit. read more

I happened to park outside to visit a client, when I looked at their window I saw they offered Beyond Meat burritos. After seeing my client I stopped in to order said burrito. The staff was friendly, and there was no wait to order - score for just missing the lunch rush (it was about 1:30pm). The burrito was a very generous size and they did not skimp on the Beyond Meat. I was very happy to find a Mexican spot that does more than just veggies as a plant-based option. Not that there's anything wrong with fajita veggies; it's nice to have an alternative. I will be back when I come to visit my downtown clients. read more

I love El Fuego- definitely a go to on any given workday. I usually go for their street fries with carnitas or chicken, quesadilla with steak, and sometimes their nachos or taco salad. I love their salsas, and their service is always considerate and quick. Their portions are ENORMOUS, so I tend to go for things that reheat, as I'm guaranteed a dinner and a lunch for their 8.99 price tag. I just wished they stayed open a little later so I could bring it home hot to my husband read more