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    El Jefe's Taqueria

    4.0 (211 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order El Jefe's Taqueria Takeout or Delivery

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    EL JEFE'S TAQUERIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Good for groups

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    Food is fine, however I had the most poorly distributed burrito I've ever encountered. There was no meat in the bottom half, and the entire core was cilantro and onion. Very minimal meat which is extremely disappointing for the cost.

    Janet D.

    The place is conveniently located close to the Colonial Theater and it was a convenient place for a quick meal after work and before a 7 pm show. There is limited seating but we were lucky to find a table. Lines move fast and I got a chicken burrito bowl. You get all the topping you want to add including guacamole and sweet plantains. It was a quick meal that filled my stomach.

    Eleana S.

    My cousin and I were roaming around Boston Public Park and the Garden, looking for a nice spot for brunch. He was craving Mexican food, so we decided to give it a try. I ordered a burrito for him, while I got a bowl with beef, veggies, corn and more. For drinks, we had Jamaica and horchata, so refreshing and delicious. The place was spacious, with a nice bar and plenty of tables. I really liked that you could watch them prepare the food and customize exactly what you wanted. It did get a little loud at times, making it hard to hear each other, but overall, the food and atmosphere made it totally worth it!

    Al pastor Bowl (no Shell)
    Kayla L.

    Always fast and efficient service. The food is always fresh and I love that they provide guacamole as one of their toppings instead of having a surcharge. You can get a taco, burrito or a bowl. Then it works like a chipotle line where you get your choice of rice, protein, and first the hot station(eg rice and beans) before the cold station (lettuce, pico de gallo) and then you are all set. It's always busy but never a long wait. The location is very convenient and is welcoming with plenty of seating areas. Tip: take the paper menu while in line to know what you want before your turn!

    Pamela M.

    Tried this spot with a group of friends. It's a pretty small space overall, tight quarters, and it felt like there was something or someone in the way no matter where you turned. The line moved quickly, which was nice, but the layout made the whole place feel a bit clogged. There's not a ton of seating, so don't expect to dine in comfortably with a group. I ordered the Fajita Bowl, which lets you pick three proteins. I wasn't that impressed. It was good enough, just not something I'd go out of my way for again. Also, the bathroom situation? TINY!!!. Really hard to get into and barely any room to move once you're inside. And you need a code to go in. Overall, the food was decent, fast service, maybe clear out the common spaces.

    Gus
    Jeff K.

    Was with a group after a concert. We were hopeless and hungry later at night. Then El Jefe stepped into the equation and saved the night. I didn't get to try that much but I needed a quick fix and the Pollo asada fajita bowl Mexican rice guac red salsa hit the spot. Chips and salsa were a great starter too. Not the best I've had, but for what it was and how late it's open, it's great.

    Chicken burrito bowl
    Jillian C.

    I tried El Jefe for lunch via a catering service. I didn't actually step inside so I can speak to the ambiance but I can comment on the food. The burrito bowl was absolutely delicious. It was packed with flavor and what seemed like high quality ingredients too. The portion was perfect. I'd definitely order from here again.

    View from Boston Commons to El Jefe
    Valerie S.

    Grabbed lunch here while walking around the Commons area. It's a small place with limited seating. It's an order at the counter place, so be prepared to wait in line. Service wasn't very fast, so the line moves slowly. Also, kids quesadilla meal comes with a super small quesadilla that's perfect for a small toddler but not an older kiddo. They have many soft drinks to choose from. Burritos are very large. I had a carne asada bowl and while the asada was flavorful, the rest of the ingredients were bland. Even the green salsa needed salt.

    (3 Taco set)
    Josiah D.

    Stopped in on a busy Friday night -- was pleasantly surprised by how quickly they moved through the line and we were able to get our food! They have very affordable options which feels increasingly rare in downtown Boston. The value here is unbeatable. The food itself was pretty solid. The burrito was tasty but not super well constructed; it fell apart while eating it which was not ideal. The tacos were delicious and we plan on ordering them again. All the ingredients tasted fresh! The facilities were pretty standard -- the bathroom was kind of unusably small but there was free water available. Overall, would recommend for a quick stop meal.

    Natalia O.

    Really (really) solid Mexican spot for a fresh, quick, and inexpensive meal. I found all of the ingredients to be tasty and fresh. Guac was fire! Their horchata is a tad bit too sweet but still really good.

    Drashti T.

    A great place for a late night meal! I got a chicken bowl with beans and veggies. It was delicious and filling. They had a huge line but the service was still pretty fast and efficient. Seating is limited but there is a lot of In and out. Overall I had some good food last minute in the city

    Spicy ground Beef burrito
    Jimmy N.

    For $11ish, you can get a nice hefty burrito bowl here. I went with al pastor today (pork). The pork is so tender and flavorful. Tip : ask them to put their special home made hot sauce on it. This is only recommended for people who has a high spice tolerance lol My bowl pretty much had everything. From pickled onions to corn to onions and cilantro. Is this better than Chipotle? Depending on the day lol I do love that El Jefes have different toppings that I typically like. Sometimes Chipotle hits differently; In a good day lol I do highly recommend this place if you work around Chinatown/Downtown area.

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    12 days ago

    Food is fresh and staff are very friendly! Ordered a carne asada bowl and portions were also generous.

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    12 days ago

    amazing late night service, great team. I love El jefe. they gave me free chips. They're an amazing restaurant.

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    El Jefe's Taqueria - tacos - Updated September 2026

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