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    El Jarro

    3.9 (354 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    El Jarro Photos

    Business Info

    EL JARRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - El Jarro

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    Chicken Enchiladas Verdes
    Jon C.

    El Jarro has been my go-to Mexican spot in the East Bay for years. Never had a bad experience and the food is always solid. I love their Enchiladas Verdes and the chips and salsa are always fresh. They also have the best chicken tortilla soup! Their extensive menu has just about anything you are looking for. Staff are always welcoming, friendly, and the quaint decor makes you feel right at home. Parking in Lafayette can be challenging but they do have a small parking area tucked behind the restaurant.

    Linda R.

    I've been to El Jarro a few times, with a friend and local business owner. She is a regular and I can see why. The staff is so friendly and the food fresh and delicious. I've had carnitas tacos, the Al pastor torta, enchiladas and chilaquiles. All were outstanding. One time they had a chili verde special that my friend ordered. It was so good, but sold out the next visit. If you don't find parking on the street, there is free parking behind the restaurant, down a very tight alley. Definitely worth checking this place out. Great food and service.

    Indoor decor
    Flybee I.

    We usually place 2-3 takeout orders each week. My favorite dish is the vegetarian burritos with cactus, which are likely the best in the Bay Area. Occasionally, we dine in, and the service, food, and ambiance are all exceptional. The food is always filling without feeling heavy. There are probably only a few fine Mexican restaurants like this in the Bay Area.

    Chips and guacamole
    Jennifer C.

    Really nice lunch experience. Shared a chicken burrito which was stuffed with yummy beans and rice and pico de gallo (super fresh). Ingredients were tasty. Chips and guacamole delicious. Service efficient and friendly.

    Taco Salad CHICKEN ENCHILADAS..
    mitch l.

    Been going here for 10 years and have never had a bad meal. Easy parking out back , Amazing Service and the Food is incredible. if you Love Mexican food try this restaurant..

    Menu
    Carolina S.

    Great little Mexican restaurant with some unexpected vegetarian options and creative dessert items. Terrific service too.

    Fresh yummy chips, salsa, and guacamole

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    I love this place I swear I come here every other week! The staff are so kind and they have the best gauc and tacos!

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    3 years ago

    Our go-to local Mexican restaurant! I really enjoy the a la carte fish tacos and shrimp tacos.

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    2 years ago

    Really good food and service. Chicken tortilla soup is really good. I always stop there for work breaks when I'm in the area.

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    10 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Way too expensive. $65 for a tiny side of beans and rice is highway robbery. Will make the drive to Oakland next time.

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Food was great, chips are quality. Ambiance is like a taqueria but with table service. Unexpected treasure in Lafayette.

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    3 years ago

    The tortas are the tits. I've had all three of them. Warm crunchy beach with premium ingredients in between.

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    4 years ago

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    Page 2 of 9

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    Rancho Cantina

    Rancho Cantina

    3.8
    (418 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Rancho Cantina has quickly become one of my favorite spots for Mexican food. From the moment you…read morewalk in, the ambiance is warm, inviting, and relaxed. The indoor-outdoor layout is a huge plus--it's the perfect place to enjoy a meal whether you're grabbing a casual lunch or meeting up with friends for dinner. The food is consistently excellent. The complimentary chips and salsa are fresh, flavorful, and honestly hard to stop eating. Their burrito bowls are packed with fresh ingredients and generous portions, making them both satisfying and delicious. If you're looking for something a little different, the wood-fired plates are definitely worth trying--they add a great smoky flavor that really stands out. Between the welcoming atmosphere, great food, and comfortable indoor-outdoor seating, Rancho Cantina is a place I'll keep coming back to. Definitely recommend checking it out if you're looking for quality Mexican food in a fun, relaxed setting with impeccable service.

    - where to start. We were seated right away. Chips & salsa were brought to the table, the chips…read morewere off, while both salsas were okay, but nothing really memorable. Drinks were had, quite tasty: the house old fashion & the hibiscus paloma. The mains: an order of the red sauce enchiladas with chicken & the salmon with chimichurri sauce. The red sauce tasted more like a tomato base versus a red chile sauce, not my thing. The salmon was prepared well. Ambiance - casual; there's both inside & outside seating. Willing to try again. They're opening a second restaurant in Danville, hoping to try it once they open.

    Photos
    Ambiance in the restaurant!
    Ambiance in the restaurant!
    Vaquero Platter
    Vaquero Platter
    Rancho Cantina

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    Comelones Tacos

    Comelones Tacos

    4.3
    (176 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    I didn't expect there to be a contender for bomb Mexican food outside of the major Bay Area cities,…read morebut Comelones Tacos proved me wrong. I was here on a short business trip and stopped by for a meal because I was craving Mexican food. Looking at the menu, I was amazed at the different options and variety of drinks they offered. Had to try the Ube horchata, birria, burritos, and the tacos. Everything came out pretty quickly and the meats were tender, good quality, and filling. I would say the ube horchata was refreshing, but after a while, it felt too sweet for me. I'm not complaining about getting such a big cup of it, but I definitely think 2 people can share 1 drink and be really satisfied. I also got some carne asada fries (not pictured), and those were also bomb. Overall, I genuinely enjoyed the friendly staff, food, and was pleasantly surprised at my experience. Will definitely come back!

    My boyfriend and I picked up burritos from this spot, it's a small spot tucked away in the back of…read morethe plaza. They offer a few seats indoors, but it seems more like a "to-go" spot. I got the surf and turn burrito and wow! You're definitely getting bang for your buck. The CA surf and turf burrito was delicious, packed with meat, fries, pico, and more. My chips were a bit stale which was not a big deal but the salsas could definitely be better. Nothing more disappointing when you find a good spot for tacos/burritos but the salsa is not up to par.

    Photos
    Guy who works there enjoying a taco with his bare hands while handling my food.
    Guy who works there enjoying a taco with his bare hands while handling my food.
    Adobada (Grilled Pastor) Taco
    Adobada (Grilled Pastor) Taco
    Pollo and Birria tacos made with halal meat

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    Pollo and Birria tacos made with halal meat
    Tacos Walnut Creek

    Tacos Walnut Creek

    4.0
    (561 reviews)
    3.2 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Vegan friendly

    So good! I love the old-school taqueria vibe here. I got the carnitas burrito and thoroughly…read moreenjoyed it. The meat was tender with just the right amount of crispiness. I'll definitely be back. The place was clean, the service was great. The wait was a little long, but it was worth it for the fresh food.

    Update: They did reach out and informed the employee charged me for a super burrito based on their…read moreinvestigation. Gerardo did offer me a full refund also. Im pleased to hear they do look into these things and try to make things whole. I've been to this restaurant a dozen times since working in alamo in the past. Last time I'm coming here. I placed a phone order for a REGULAR al pastor burrito earlier. The amount of meat was miniscule compared to the beans and rice BTW. When I got there they gal read the tag that had my phone order for a REGULAR burrito. I was charged $17 but with tax it was over $18. I called later in the day and the lady on the phone said the regular is 12.99. Im lactose intolerant so I don't do dairy which the super has. Anyways I find this business practice repulsive and will not be returning. I hope this review gets views and reconsider patronizing at this establishment. Huge thumbs down. They don't seem to value customers. I called them after finding out they did me dirty overcharging me. The employee told me the owner/management was out of town. I reached out to them on instagram in attempt to inform ownership/management of what is happening. The person responding on instagram told me they are out of town. I never got a follow up from them. Who knows if they actually investigated what happened because I didn't get a follow up. I could care less about the extra few dollars they took. If they have an employee intentionally overcharging then they need to correct it. It's simple as that. All the info is in the photo I included in the review if they choose to investigate.

    Photos
    Al pastor slow roasting on the (Trompo)
    Al pastor slow roasting on the (Trompo)
    16ibs of cuteness VS 80ibs of Deliciousness (al pastor)
    16ibs of cuteness VS 80ibs of Deliciousness (al pastor)
    Qusabirria order

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    Qusabirria order
    Tacos El Patron

    Tacos El Patron

    4.3
    (1.7k reviews)
    5.2 mi
    $$

    Yes. Yes. Yes! While in the area, Tacos El Patrón was recommended for lunch. I had never been to…read morethis spot before, but trusted the locals on their go-to. I'm already excited for an opportunity to come back soon! I was told the tacos are a must, so of course I ordered a Chicken Tinga Tostada and Vampiro with steak. I also ordered a Watermelon Aguas Frescas. For the table we did an order of Guacamole with Pork Belly (first time ever trying this!) and Birria Grilled Cheese Bites. Something cool about ordering tacos here is upon ordering two, you can grab complimentary sides that include cactus, radishes, grilled onion, and beans. There's also the cutest bottles of hot sauce on the table for your meal. The service was quick and friendly, ambiance was fun and vibrant. Would be fun to come back for a marg at the bar. Seems like a vibe for that post-work moment. I noticed a special kiddo menu and breakfast menu. Also, they have a pretty cool Birria menu filled with fun items like Birria fries, flautas, pizza, ramen, and more! The grilled cheese bites were a great app to get an intro to what a full plate could look like. Super fresh and flavorful food, parking adjacent in small lot, and left with overall awesome feels.

    My favorite Mexican in the area. So good that for their 2nd location they opened in The Mission…read morebecause it's that tier of excellent and can easily compete with the best SF has to offer. It's sit-down and I miss the fast casual experience, but the food still comes out super fast and the wait staff is very friendly. Everything I've had here has been amazing, you can't go wrong. They supply 4 different salsas in large bottle so I can drench my food in delicious salsa. Love it.

    Photos
    Interior of their kitchen area of Tacos El Patrón in Pleasant Hill.
    Interior of their kitchen area of Tacos El Patrón in Pleasant Hill.
    Barrios tacos
    Barrios tacos
    Pork belly and al pastor tacos

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    Pork belly and al pastor tacos

    El Jarro - mexican - Updated July 2026

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