El Taco

Excellent fresh food as always.Tried the fish and shrimp tacos this time and they were good.The…read moreutimate burrito wet with red sauce was exceptional. The staff is very helpful and friendly.

Hmmm... let's see. Zero stars if I could. Epically horrible…read more First, I've patronized this location multiple times prior. It's a small joint, basically takeout and delivery. Has typically been decent. This last was absolute $hit. Lemme elaborate... Wifey got the classic chicken salad w/balsamic dressing. Far from classic. Loaded with iceberg lettuce and I mean loaded. The least expensive inclusion in a salad. That said, while it is supposed to come with cucumber slices, it did!!! All 3 of them. Lettuce was obviously not entirely fresh as there were soggy limp leaves throughout. The grilled chicken was dry and tomato slices were about an inch thick. The tomatoes and dressing were the best part of the salad. Wifey refused to eat the vast majority of it as thoughts of salmonella and psyclosporiasis began to dance through our heads... On to my "Maria's Salad Burrito w/shrimp" and an avocado "extra". (For a mere $3.50 extra I might add). When they advertise "with shrimp" understand they are being literal. One effing shrimp in the entire burrito. ONE. O.N.E.. ONE... As for the avocado, it too was virtually non existent. Maybe 3 little fingernail sized pieces. Will never ever go back to this piece of $hit establishment. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I refuse to be shamed. You, Prontos, have been.

Pronto's Mexican Grill - fresh salsa bar attended to by a lovely staff member

2. Crispy Taco 2 Pieces Combo Plate

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Best Mexican food in San Pedro

Jefe's Cocina

4.6(186 reviews)

0.1 mi•San Pedro

I went here on a recommendation on Reddit's r/SanPedro page, and I'm glad I went. The kind redditor…read moresuggested the tacos, so I ordered 3 chicken tacos with a side of beans and rice. There were a few things that really stood out and made me very happy that I gave it a try. First, the red sauce in the salsa bar: very legit! Spicy, but very flavorful! I also tried the green chili/tomatillo sauce, which was also very good and good counter point to the unctuous marinated chicken. And they don't go cheap on the meat. Secondly, the corn tortillas were made in house and were hefty! Very tasty and held together where other tacos need two of the thin store-bought variety to have a hope to stand together. Very good. If I had the tiniest critique, I would say to add a tiny bit more salt to them, but I have a theory why they may go scant on it, and I respect that. Third, the beans and rice: The beans were very simple, but simply good. It takes a lot of guts to make and serve simple pinto beans boiled with salt. I know! What a concept! But simply delicious, and made to complement the rest of the food, and not distract from it. It takes a lot of confidence in my opinion for a restaurant to have such faith in their food to leave some that should be simple, simple. The same was true for the rice: simply well made, not over done with a ton of ingredients. It was well made: the individual grains didn't stick together. And it was unctuous without being overbearing. If I had to guess, I would say that they used broth and chicken fat. Simply good, and a complement to rest of the meal. Now to my theory. It makes sense that the masa would be light on the salt because it is the same masa that they use for pupusas, and the filling for pupusas (I just like that word) is savory and well seasoned. I'll let you now next time I got back and try the PUPUSAS! ;)

Clean place and friendly workers. Handmade tortillas were good. Agua de tamarindo was tangy and…read morefresh. Added some water to it as it was a bit sweet for me. I usually baseline judge a Mexican spot on their salsas and their carne asada. Salsas are not great. I tried all of them and none of them stood out. Their green sauce is over blended and just doesn't taste great. Asada wasn't the best quality and had gristle. Lengua was kind of shredded into pieces and by the end of the taco I didn't really want to keep eating it. Chicken tasted like it was seasoned with a ramen packet or something just odd seasoning.

Freshly Made Passionfruit Agua Fresca

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Try our Freshly Made Horchata!

Maria's Mexican Restaurant

3.2(261 reviews)

0.8 mi•San Pedro

Ordered mini burritos to cater a party. The Bean&Cheese and the Asada, Rice Beans were both really…read moregood. And the price is hard to beat. Would highly recommend their catering!

Ran into this restaurant by driving around. Needed some items from a hardware store, this…read morerestaurant happened to be next door to the hardware store I found. Entered this location, I was greeted and told to sit anywhere I wanted to. I was given a menu. Menu had many types of Mexican selections to choose from. Carne Asada burritos, tacos, Flautas, breakfast pancakes.. etc. Ordered a sprite with my meal. Wait time to receive my meal was longer then expected. Waited 17 mins to receive. Chowed down. Everything was very good. Our waitress was courteous and kept checking up on me if all was good. Ambiance is that of a Mom and Pop traditional old school restaurant and market. Overall this placed delivered. Satisfied my hunger for Mexican food. Good food and friendly service. Prices are cheaper then the average Joe restaurants. Old school prices in modern times. I would come back. Parking is tight. Good luck.

Dining area

Breakfast platter

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Front sign

Puesta Del Sol

3.5(350 reviews)

0.5 mi•San Pedro

They're take sopes off menu. Bring them Back !…read more Also Shout out to Lili best bartender!

Ceviche Tostada, Chile Relleno, Fish Taco, Steak Fajitas. Ohh so delicious! The service is as good…read moreas the delicious food, always a fun tasty meal here. The decor, the music and the great food all ad to the fun ambience at Puesta Del Sol.

Front door entrance

Dawgs

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Of course

Kalaveras

4.0(784 reviews)

0.3 mi•San Pedro

When to this location after a funeral. It was a party of 50 or more. I was not counting to par…read morebut there was alot of us. We were all seated at a very long table. It was a buffet style type of gathering with complimentary tea, water, and lemon aid. All was very refreshing. Waiter took our drink orders, for those that chose not to settle for those beverages listed above . Everything was paid for by the host except for the alcohol. You must pay at your own dime. Stood in line at the buffet. Your choices were salad, rice, beans, enchiladas, and tacos. Provided meats were Carne Asada, Chicken, and Pork. Salsas, salt, pepper, silverware and plate settings. To my surprise, all was very good. Customer service was friendly and helpful. No complaints. Great buffet! Overall the food and service was good. Cool place to dine. We were sitting on the right side of the restaurant. Outside Patio. Looks like that side of the restaurant was not complete. It was half constructed with bare wood. The vibe was cool. The dissapointing part of this restaurant is the parking. Parking sucks! You would have to park 3 to 4 blocks away from the restaurant. Regardless, what matters is the place is clean, has good food and service. Restrooms are acceptable.

So happy to finally try this place out!…read more Inside and outside of the restaurant is beautiful, colorful and festive with so much to look at while you enjoy your food and the music they blast. Service was okay, our server was attentive, nothing extraordinary. The food is the standout here. I don't like salsa but I LOVED their salsa. I would come back for this alone. Ordered the quesabirria tacos and kala burrito, both were huge portions of food and tasted amazing. Some of the best chain mexican food imo. Will happily be returning.

Our Family at the table

Klassic Wet Burrito

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Bar Area

Mr Valdez Mexican Food

4.6(62 reviews)

0.6 mi•San Pedro

Ordered pa carne asada burrito wet style with both red and green sauce, plus a Jamaica drink…read more The burrito was huge and really satisfying. The carne asada had great flavor, and having both sauces on top made every bite better. The red sauce brought a nice richness and the green sauce added a little tang and freshness that balanced everything out. Definitely messy in the best way. The Jamaica drink was cold and refreshing and paired perfectly with the food. The spot has that classic casual Mexican food feel where you know you're about to get a solid meal. Staff was friendly, service was quick, and everything came out hot and fresh. Definitely a place I'd come back to when I'm craving a good burrito.

If you're looking for authentic, homemade Mexican food, Mr. Valdez Mexican Restaurant is an…read moreabsolute gem. This cozy mom-and-pop spot truly feels like a labor of love, with everything made fresh and full of flavor. The mole is incredible--rich, comforting, and honestly reminds me of the kind my mom used to make. It's one of those dishes that instantly feels nostalgic. And the chile verde? Finger-licking good. Every bite is packed with fresh, vibrant flavor. Beyond the food, what really makes this place special is the people. The owners are some of the sweetest, most genuine folks you'll meet--truly salt-of-the-earth. You can feel the warmth the moment you walk in. This place has quickly become one of our regular spots, and for good reason. If you appreciate real, homemade cooking and kind-hearted service, you'll love it here.

Taco de asada Taco de al Pastor

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Pina's Mexican Restaurant

4.0(240 reviews)

1.6 mi•San Pedro

My family and I have been coming to this restaurant for many years. The food is good, but the staff…read moreis what makes this place great. Everyone is so friendly and they make you feel at home!

Usually we go to the Pina's on 9th, but they were closed and I'm very glad we came to this Pina's…read more The decor is a charming Mexican restaurant with a tv and many drink options. The service is very polite and speedy, the staff made sure we were enjoying our meal. The meals were delicious, it was difficult to choose just one plate, and it was fabulous. I definitely need to bring more people with me and enjoy their Happy Hour.

Inside the beautiful and wonderful PINA'S

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PINA'S !!

Tacos El Goloso

4.2(137 reviews)

0.7 mi•San Pedro

This was my first time here. When I arrived, I was expecting to dine in, but found out they are…read moretakeout-only. The menu was also difficult to read because many of the prices had faded badly -- they really need to go over the board with a Sharpie so first-time customers can actually see the prices clearly. I ordered the birria plate. The portion of meat was very generous -- probably at least half a pound -- and it came with a few standard tortillas, a small bag of chopped onion, cilantro, plus three lemon wedges. It also included a small side of refried beans with cheese on top, which was unremarkable, and some mushy Mexican rice that could have been much better. The meat itself was definitely the best part of the meal. It also came with a small container of consommé, but it was only lukewarm even though I had driven just 10 minutes away, so the food overall could have been hotter. There was only one hot sauce included, and I didn't care for it at all. I also missed the usual fresh radish slices and the standard red or green salsa options that many birria places provide. The food was packaged nicely, but overall I was expecting better for the price. It came to above $18, which felt overpriced for the quality, especially considering there's no dine-in option. While there was enough meat for two people, I personally would have preferred slightly smaller portions with better overall quality and sides. I've definitely had better birria elsewhere, which is why I'm giving this rating.

I've been a fan of Tacos El Goloso in Torrance for a long time, but the other day it was my first…read morerime check out another Tacos El Goloso location. This one is located in San Pedro on Gaffey St. Walking in, this spot had that old school cantina feel. It had cozy, colorful booths, worn in details and an authentic charm. It just felt like the perfect spot to eat some classic tacos. Simple, no frills and straight up classic. I chose to get my Tacos El Goloso go to favorite the Tacos Dorados de Birria. You can get 3 for $11.99, 4 for $14.99 or 5 for $17.99. These tacos always hit the spot. I love the crispy pan fried taco filled with generous tender beef birria. The dipping consommé is perfect and the side salsa is fire! I am happy to say this San Pedro location is just as good as the Torrance location. Compared to the Torrance spot, this one leans slightly more into that old school feel, but the tacos are just as delicious.

Inside

Veggie Tacos

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Mulita

Muy Pronto Tacos

4.2(124 reviews)

0.3 mi•San Pedro

Found this spot on yelp and everything was cooked to order and served hot. Food was delicious!…read more Complimentary chips and salsa. Customer service was excellent! Ps. They even gave my son complimentary French fries. Thank you .

Up front, it's important to know that I'm from Portland, Oregon and finding a decent bowl of menudo…read morethere is like hunting unicorns. I've had some but when in SoCal, I look forward to finding a better bowl. Muy Pronto delivered. A big bowl of steaming broth and so-tender tripe. Interesting that there were only a few garbanzos but in no way did that detract from my enjoyment of this dish. My palate isn't sophisticated enough to enumerate flavor distinctions, only enough to say this was good, and I'll be back.

Dining table

Menudo!

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Tacos Jalisco

3.8(128 reviews)

0.1 mi•San Pedro

Was working nearby so I pulled to grab something for lunch. Found them on Apple Maps then checked…read morethem out on Yelp. Located on the corner of 8th Street and Pacific Ave. Parking lot available in the back of the building but you can also park on the street. Went there for the quesabirria tacos cuz I thought they were goat. Oh I was so disappointed lol. I was told they don't do the goat quesabirria tacos cuz the goat has bone in it. So instead, I got the beef ones. A bit pricey but the food was really good. The service was also good. Took about 10-15 mins for my order. Everything was nice and hot. I didn't care for the consome. It had no flavor to it. It tasted more oily than anything. However, I do like the portion size. The tacos were also bigger than what I'm used to.

usually order the nachos and never have any problems, this time all of the chips were burnt and…read morebarley any meat.......

Inside

$1 charge

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View of the storefront from the street

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Chris P.

18 years ago

Oh , El Taco !!! Why must you make your delicious goodies only a mere 1/2 block from my home ?? ( whist filled sigh ) ..... Yes , your mouth watering selection of tacos , burritos and ...wait for it ..... A Sloppy Joe( yes , just one. But believe me , when you read the menu , as to what is on it , you too will understand why there can be Only ONE ! ) ...... make me smile with such tummy satisfying joy. My girlfriend speaks fluent Spanish , which at first threw the fine folks at El Taco #17 off , seeing as we are both white kid poster children. My girlfriend being fair hair , skinned and blue eyed. But holey mole' , do they love us !! And the other wonderful thing about ET17 , if you frequent there , they have your order being prepared as soon as they see you walking up ! AND , they have no problem "special ordering ". For instance , our staple ET17 is the breakfast burrito. However OURS is one of those special orders. Potato , bacon and cheese. NOT on their menu at all , but it goes to show how accommodating and eager to please that this fine establishment IS ! And their Nachos !! Forget about it !!! OUT OF THIS WORLD !!! I believe this walk up "taco stand" has been here since 1958. It's awesome , the food is awesome and the employees are equally as awesome. Each time we stroll up , we are greeted with a wide , genuine smile and the feeling that we have walked over to an old family friend's home for a quick bite and a " how are you today ? " visit. Oh , El Taco ....... I just heard a shout from the shower ..... it looks as though we will be making a stop in just a few moments. I will see you shortly Mi Amigo. read more

Food-Doc M.

230

16 years ago

No need to screw around with the extensive menu here, or the drive thru only accessible from 9th street. Parking sucks!! Getting into it takes a GPS device. The only way to truly enjoy the Mexican menu that this "El Taco" has to offer is to show some balls and walk up to the Pacific Ave walk up window. Be warned that alhough they do offer a few outdoor dining benches, you're in the hood and if you can't handle your ass, all bets are off as far as safety goes and you're on your own! Especially after sunset. In my case, I was waiting for my kid in a nearby, "be a good boy facility" with plenty of time to waste. And after eyeing down the local heathens watching me make a bank transaction at WaMu a few blocks away, and the sun still bright, I decided to give this joint a shot for a small filler before a later dinner excursion a few hours later. I have to say I wasn't disappointed. I didn't want a full meal, just a freaking taco. The same they've been serving since 1958. The menu here is extensively Mexican and that ground beef taco and water I ordered was great, so much so that I took my kid there after his penance for his $.1.50 version of the same. Hard shell, seasoned ground beef with lettuce and cheese. Simple, cheap and very tasty. I would have ordered 3 or 4 if it wasn't for my dinner engagement very soon after. If in the area and not afraid of drunks on "Bum Wines" I suggest trying it out. The taco I had was the shit and could become addictive. A must try for all you "taco bums". Just hit this place while the sun is still up. Enjoy read more

Kevin S.

3 years ago

I am so bummed by this place. I do t live in the area but find myself here a lot to enjoy the marina and boating. I tried the place once before and it was o god aweful, I've spent the last year wondering if it was just a single bad experience... NOPE! Tried it again tonight cuz I wanted some old school "white people" tacos you know, like mom used to make? Anyway.. I simply can't describe how bad their food is. The crispy tacos (which was craving) are filled with a mystery concoction of presumably meat??? Their Taco sauce or made by Heinz! HEINZ!!! They don't make their own?! I also ordered (for safety) a cheese enchilada... I mean, how do ya screw that up?? Well stop by El Taco! They will show you! Not only was my "cheese enchilada) full of chunks of meat (pork?? Chicken?? Not sure) and the only cheese was on top. It came with rice and beans... beans are beyond horrendous... but the rice?? Well I give it a nod because it reminded me of my high school cafeteria Mexican rice... which sucks.... But it's nostalgic. Wish this place was better! The location and logo/name is sweet! A proper fresh take on the menu with a real chef would elevate this joint into a San Pedro classic! I know a couple of talented foodies who could really make El Taco what it should be, but is absolutely NOT. Sorry. But this is an honest review with the hopes ownership/management glean some inspiration?? read more

Kevin C.

14 years ago

They don't wear gloves when handling food, they wipe down their working counter with the same dirty rag. Overall the food made me sick, their meat is very low quality. Despite it being "real meat" it has a really bad taste. It isn't very economical either, despite it's low quality. I'm definitely not going there again unless it is a life and death situation. read more

Erica M.

3 years ago

I have been coming here since I was a kid. If you have never been here you must try the red or green chili quesadilla and the chunky red beef burrito. They are soo good. the cheese chips with guacamole are good too. You can drive through and never have to wait long. read more

Leila L.

16 years ago

All I can say is... meh. Much better places, even around town. Although I've been spoiled by being in Santa Ana (spoiled as in Mexican food... cuz it ain't pretty there) read more

America F.

5 years ago

Horrible customer service !!! Food is nasty!!! VERRY VERRY RUDE PEOPLE! would not recommend to anyone ! Your best off going to Taco Bell instead!!! read more

Guadalupe S.

5 years ago

Please just don't. The worst food you will ever have. Please just go to Taco Bell if you want a crunchy taco.

Chaps L.

14 years ago

mmm chile verde burrito

Tina R.

141

16 years ago

Never again...

El Taco - mexican - Updated September 2026

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I've been to this taco spot over a dozen times and have always ordered a bean & cheese burrito with…read morecebolla y cilantro. I haven't tried anything else on the menu so this review is based solely off the bean & cheese burrito. It's $9 & worth every penny. The burrito is always hot, cheese is thoroughly melted, beans always hot, tortilla always warm, the salsa verde here is really good! The salsa roja is spicy, lips stay burning! When I order it for here they give me chips and jalapeños on the side. The service her is prompt, there is always a line in the drive thru. One day I'll come try the birria or the breakfast specials. I have always had a good experience at this restaurant.

My go to restaurant for Home like Mexican food. The meat is always great quality has never failed…read more Great prices for great food. I always order the number six.

Vaquero Mexican Grill

3.4

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Chicken tacos were dry and so hard I had to throw it out. It used to be one of my favorite taco…read moreplaces but it's gone down hill. Terrible quality. Tasetes like dry white chicken meat.

Went to Vaquero Mexican grill today. They have changed the menu and raised prices and give less…read more Shrinkflation! The potato tacos were 3 now 2. No salsa unless you pay for it and no chips unless you pay for them. Used to come with lettuce tomatoes cheese and sour cream. Not anymore. Every other restaurant gives at least a small chips and salsa with purchase of a combo meal. I got none. I had to buy the salsa for my tacos. The quality is lacking. The service was lousy. The lady was rude. I have been going here for over 10yrs. I will never be going back. Overpriced, small quantity, bad quality. Save your money. There are literally so many places to go within walking distance that are so much better and better value than here. Don't recommend it at all!

Las Palmas Cafe

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Always friendly service and great Mexican food! Nice place to watch a game after work and have a…read morebeer and great tacos! Staple in the community

Wanted to like this place as I have been looking for a Mexican restaurant with good flavorful beans…read moreand rice and this place was not it. Enchilada was good, taco was fine salsa was good and showered the broken chips albeit very small portion. The bean and beef burrito lacked any flavor. So a burrito combo and taco enchiladas combo and one root beer and $55 later plenty of leftovers since the food really wasn't very good. Took about ten minutes to get the check back after I handed my CC. Place wasn't that busy. Service was ok at best. No drink refill. Has to be better options out there. Will go back to Taxco in Pedro.

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The food at this restaurant is really good. When ever my husband and me crave for menudo, we always…read morecome to this place even though we live in Los Angeles.

Amazing food with quick service i waited 5 mins for my food to come out my first time trying this…read moreplace and i will come back again

Diana's Mexican Food

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Wonder Woman's restaurant!…read more Food here is okay. It's one of the best in Carson. The only bad things I'd say is that there was this one day where there was a worm inside of one of the desserts. Also, sometimes, it smells bad in there. But the smell isn't a big deal, because the food is great. And everyone inside is nice. Thanks, Diana's, even though I prefer Awkwafina. Henry Cavill said choose my mate carefully. His first name is my middle name. No one thinks about their middle name! But thanks, Diana's. The burritos here are good. The chips are crispy. There are a wide variety of options to choose from. Lots of desserts. And the restaurant is neatly designed. Stay around. Carson needs this location.

Food was bomb just like I remembered as a kid. Only reason it wasn't 5 stars is because my grandma…read morehad the 2 kids tacos, it didn't come with cheese or lettuce but otherwise was bomb. Also the Pepsi tasted weird so I got the bottled coke instead. I stopped coming for years because the last few times the quality consistently disappointed and upset me. After years, I decided to give it another shot.

Tacos Quiroga

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MARLA STOOK HER WHOLE ASS FOOT IN MY CONSOMMÉ I mean she just put her heart and soul into that…read moreconsommé. I was in town for a dear friends wedding from Las Vegas and got a late night craving for tacos. I of course reached out to some local consigliere's I knew from back in the day to see where they would go and one recommended "Tacos Gallito" the other said she could care less about tacos; but everything I had read online sounded like Gallitos better days were behind them and now their tacos weren't as good, smaller and charged more. But not here. They stuffed those tacos. Had plenty of fiiiiiixxiiiins for the tacos and Marla who was taking orders was as sweet as can be and even gave me a little sample of their consommé they use for their Birria. I got 8 tacos (2 carnitas, 2 asada, 2 pastor, & 2 cabeza) Gun to my head I would rank the Carnitas and Pastor last out of those; but they had these fish and shrimp tacos I'm getting next time I'm in San Pedro scouring the city for tacos I'm getting drunk at Godmothers tonight and might go back for Round 2 tonight

I've had their tacos many times before and they are really good tacos. Felt like getting a burrito…read morebut my go to spot wasn't out that night so I decided to try a burrito here. The service was great, the food was given to us promptly. Walking to the car it didn't feel like I had taco truck burritos, the bag was light like if I had Taco Bell burritos. Took my first bite and all I got was rice and lettuce, why lettuce!? Finally got down to the meat and the carnitas were good but very little meat compared to other burritos in town. My wife didn't even finish hers. Great spot for tacos but I'll buy my burritos at my favorite taco stand. To say the burritos were a disappointment is an understatement.

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Love the food! Been going to this taco spot since they first started. If it ain't these tacos I…read moredon't want them!!

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