Ya GOTTA try one -- it's an AMAZING treat! It's true -- it's a meal to be eaten within the hour: the shell is super crispy and has excellent flavor ... if you let it cool off for later, it's still great, but a very different experience. I like to add cold sour cream, regular Pace salsa & some green olive juice from home -- the store doesn't keep these onhand & that's ok. AND gotta have one of the authentic Tamarind drinks! They also have an amazing selection of legit chips If the SECRET of the Roasted Pork ever gets out -- it's so amazing, it might hafta be regulated! read more

El Taco Loco - Roasted Pork Taco Salad!! - Mexican Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

See all

Roll call to my SoCal peeps!!! 5/5 would recommend! Yo yo yo! This place is sollllliddddd. Clean! Nice humans! A win all around. They have alllll the Mexican sodas! And tamales! If you spent any time in Carlsbad, this place is reminiscent of Grubby's in many ways. I truly appreciated how clean it was. Parking is't vast, but it's enough. WE WILL BE BACK. read more

Fantastic flautas and rice. Amazing value. Was such a pleasant and authentic Mexican food experience! Great value for the portions read more

El Taco Loco - Flautas/hard tacos Rice - Mexican Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

This is my go to place for sopes. I prefer carnitas and the hubby likes chicken. I am not really familiar with anything else except the sopes. read more

So tasty! Helpful staff who told us everything that comes in a California burrito and then brought it to our table when it was ready. Two of us split a burrito because it was so huge. I would ask for extra pico de gallo next time. Cool salsa bar but everything was very spicy! read more

El Taco Loco - Haha - Mexican Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

See all

A lot of food! Come hungry! Good fast and friendly service. We. Stopped on our way through town heading to the coast. read more

See all

The menu or a sign translating the meat choices would have been helpful. But Food was delicious! Be prepared the burritos are Huge! If they had pictures I would have opted for the small burrito plate instead of the giant burrito. Tamales and Birra tacos were as expected and yummy They have a cooler in the dining area with sauces and pickled onions you can self serve and get what you want. read more

See all

Loved it! The service was great, the place was clean, and the food was plentiful and tasty. Would come back in a heartbeat!

The food! Incredible. I ordered the chicken burrito and couldn't finish it all even though I really wanted to! So much chicken and cheese packed with flavor. Definitely will be back. I hear the birria tacos are the best around. read more

Very happy with the food. I ordered a chicken burrito and it was very hot and cheese was very cheesy. No complaints with the service as the food was brought out in a reasonable amount of time. This is more of a casual place than a restaurant. Enjoyed my time here. read more

El Taco Loco - Jarrito Mandarin. - Mexican Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

El Taco Loco where have you been ... The burrito I had was excellent! It was so large I could not eat it all. I went with the carnitas , which was perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Forget The Burrito Shack and Chipotle, you're wasting your tastebuds time. read more

El Taco Loco - Mexican Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

This is a take out review some things could be solved if we ate there. I got 3 carne asada tacos and beans and rice, the beans and rice were very tasty, the carne asada was a little dry, I wish I had some limes and salsa to go with my tacos, I am unsure if it was forgot or you must ask, but other then that I may go back to give it another shot :) read more

Great birria tacos and rice! Spicy salsa, only downside is no tortilla chips and guacamole. Very friendly staff.

Food and portions are the best here. If you are very specific on what you want you usually get it.

We ordered the Birria tacos and the California burrito! Delicious food and the burrito was HUGE!

Nothing more authentic than this local establishment. They have expanded and even added a quaint, outdoor deck. Locals keep this a secret to themselves. ;-) . If you want some authentic birria tacos, come en El Taco Loco read more

See all

Locally owned business. Food wasn't cheap or great. Order at the counter and they do bring out your food. Simple atmosphere.

Was in New Bern for work and looked to Yelp to find a good place for a late lunch. Definitely didn't disappoint. Lots of work trucks in parking lot told me I'd enjoy my food. Ordered the California burrito. It was HUGE. In fact I brought half home. Great flavor. I'll go again and try something a little smaller next time. read more

El Taco Loco - California burrito - Mexican Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

Surly counter service, not helpful, hidden charges, did not offer "salsa bar" that only "locals" know about and as we were walking to a table said "oh, you forgot your drinks". About half full, dirty tables and eventually someone comes out with the orders, had to ask for chips and salsa (cold chips and so so salsa). Each plate was a giant portion of refried beans and rice with small servings of tacos and enchiladas. No drink refills offered. So, dirty place, poor service, less than good food...will NEVER go again. Must be family members giving good reviews plus the parking is almost non existent. NO "*"s if possible. read more

Y'all. I have been looking far and wide for authentic Birria Tacos. And I have finally found them. Seriously. Top notch. This place was recommend to us by a friend. We came here with about 30 minutes to close and ordered to eat in house. Our food only took about 10 minutes to come out and it was fresh! The inside is super cute and rustic. This was a great place to pop into and we have already been back to get take out! read more

El Taco Loco - The beloved Birria Tacos. Super juicy and tender. The sauce was just amazing! - Mexican Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

See all

Carne asada is amazing. My son was so excited to have a California burrito outside of California, made him feel like he was home. And it was as big as his head. read more

I like trying new places. I found this close to where I had to run an errand and thought I'd try it. It liked a little sketchy at first, but we went in. I'm so glad! The staff was very friendly. That we're also very patient since this was our first time. I ordered the California Burrito. It was huge and very good. My friend ordered carnitas tacos. Also excellent. I'm definitely coming back. They do takeout and dine in. Take the time to dine in. We enjoyed our visit Thank you!!!!! read more

El Taco Loco - California burrito. Us already eaten half when I took the picture. - Mexican Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

Visited El Taco Loco for the first time and will definitely be going again. Authentic Mexican food. Absolutely delicious

Great customer service. I was a little skeptical of trying this place, but it was great, very traditional. They hook it up with the portions, so you definitely get your money's worth. Y sí son mexicanos aqui, todo están bueno y muy tradicionales. Todos los aguas frescas están naturales y hecho en mano y tienen los semillas adentro. read more

Love their food. For the real thing, go to this place. Good place to experience Mexican food!!

I have been a Taco Loco fan for years. They have never done me wrong. Until today. I ordered a Supreme Burrito with Asada and refried beans. (use to be an option idk if it still is) they gave me a burrito with zero beans at all. Oh well - I'm not all that worked up about it. I really like beans but whatever... The burrito does not, in fact, have Carne Asada in it. It was full of ground hamburger meat that was clearly pan sauted with zero flavor to it - simply ground beef on the griddle dumped in the burrito. I get it - times are tough and food is way more expensive than it used to be - but you do NOT just serve me hamburger meat and call it Asada - either raise your price and serve actual grilled steak - or clearly indicate that you are serving bland, tasteless, hamburger meat. DO BETTER. You do not want to destroy the fine reputation you have built in this community. read more

One of the first places we tried when we moved here. The staff is super friendly and the tacos!!!! The tacos were so good my husband cried a little. The birria tacos are incredible. The burritos are bigger than your head. 10/10 we still go once a week :) read more

I've been here on and off again over the years but not since I started yelping. I will start off by saying the burritos are huge and you can easily split one with someone and still have left overs. My only critique on the burrito is that it seemed very moist and didn't have the consistency I was hoping for which made it difficult to eat. The staff was super friendly and took time to explain the menu as it's changed from what I remember. I didn't eat at the restaurant but from what I could tell was that it wasn't too loud and had a good vibe. I'd go back again but would be splitting the burrito. read more

Omg I had the burrito and I think it could have fed three people. Absolutely loaded with food and bursting with flavor. 10 out of 10 will be back. read more

Great taco place! If you're looking for authentic- this is the place for you. Many options and always delicious. Highly recommend!

It's ALWAYS GOOD and too much food for one meal. #fishtaco #tacosalad #CaliBurrito That's the review read more

Always have a great experience and meal at El Taco Loco! This is my go-to Mexican food in New Bern. If you've lived in CA, this is the spot you've been looking for! I also order tamales here each Christmas and recently placed an order to take to my company Christmas party. They were a huge hit!! People were coming up to my desk all day thanking me for bringing them and complementing how good they were. Of course I let them know who made them No pic because they were snatched up too fast! read more

The food was wonderful! Employees were efficient and pleasant. Dining area was clean. There is a salsa station too! I had the quesadillas with shrimp, hubby had California chicken burrito. Delicious! read more

The best and BIGGEST burrito I've ever eaten in my life. We got it to go, still good by the time we got home. As a small woman, I wish the supreme burritos came in half the size. the staff was friendly, energetic and took pride in their business! I love seeing that! Will be coming more often! I don't know why I waited so long!!! read more

I've been a steady customer for the last 6 years. The food is good. My only complaint is that the prices have gone through the roof. They were never as cheap as many other Taquerias but I overlooked the expense because they were the best around and I was able to afford them pre-Covid. Their $3 tacos and $15 burritos are too much for me. I ordered my usual three tacos, soft drink, and burrito to go and the price came up to $30!!! Enjoy them if you can afford them. I wish my income went up as much as their prices. read more

I really enjoyed eating at this place. Being from Cali I miss my Mexican food. This place is clean, and service is great. They had a line and people waiting for pick up orders which is always a good sign. They also had good salsas. There is no frills and it's very authentic. My only recommendations would be to liven up the dinging area. The birria needed just a tad bit more flavor/salt, but I added it myself. Aside from that I highly recommend this place. It's was very good, and it made feel like home. read more

This place is so good. It seriously taste like my mom is in the back of the kitchen making everything with love and over serving me as usual. You won't finish your plate with the portions. But who doesn't love left overs when the food is that good and fresh. I didn't particularly care for the pico de Gallo. Too many onions and not enough tomatoes. But I don't like onions. The agua fresca is so good! This place is worth every penny. And of course the staff is so friendly!! Highly recommend! read more

From Cali.. ive been searching for burritos like this since 2016.. since we left California... hands down best burritos and Carne Asada fries... EVER I want to add that we have traveled to New Bern 2 weekends in a row from RALEIGH for this place! We always order more than 2 things.. 1 for there and 1 to go!! ‍‍ read more

El Taco Loco - Carne Asada.. Make your own burrito!! - Mexican Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

See all

We ate here at least once a week. No more. Three times I've gotten so very I'll. This last time they didn't even hide or care that the ingredients in the burrito I ordered made me sick. There was a smell to it. Like they put pre-made old food. Stick in the burrito and no one will notice. We used to come here twice a week because of the shop next door to them that sold mangoneadas. Now I almost want to work here so I can see what the eff is the reason they've been cutting corners and not doing their best anymore. read more

CONS: The tacos left much to be desired. I ordered the carne asada and the al pastor which both were very dry like they were cooked days before and we're just reheated before serving. The tortillas were also very dry. The red sauce also tasted like it had spoiled. Wouldn't recommend going to this place unless the meat quality (AT THE VERY LEAST) improves. PROS: The facility looked clean and the personnel were professional. The green sauce was delicious. read more