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    El Taco Tote

    3.7 (247 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Open 10:30 am - 10:00 pm

    Order El Taco Tote Takeout or Delivery

    El Taco Tote Photos

    Business Info

    EL TACO TOTE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - El Taco Tote

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    Delicious sirloin tacos. Recommended!
    Daniel J.

    The food I got to say it's definitely good! In terms of the service, wish to see more smiles. I said thank you so much to the girl who brought the food to my table, but she did not say a word. I repeated myself again maybe she did not hear me, she responded with "do you need anything else?" Perhaps she was just not having a best day, but hopefully this changes in the future. My top rating will always be based on the customer service Followed by the food then ambience. The ambience is good.

    Betsy M.

    We have driven by here for years and never stopped that I can recall. In looking to try somewhere we had never been we stopped in for some tacos. I mean who does not love tacos? You order at the counter, they give you a number and when it is ready they bring it to your table. They have a really great salsa bar as well. I ordered a shrimp taco and pollo asada - both were SO good. Particularly the chicken, the flavor was incredible. I honestly don't go out of my mind about chicken in general but theirs was excellent. My husband had steak and adobo tacos which he loved as well. The service was very friendly and welcoming, the place was very clean. After I saw people leave they were full on cleaning the tables with disinfectant, etc. The place is clearly popular with a steady stream of take out orders but also big families dining in. If you are like us, driving by and never stopping... STOP and get some tacos!

    Sirloin taco.  Comes with just the protein and tortilla.  Use the salsa bar to add your own style.  $5+ as of 6/2023.
    Eric L.

    Clean, spacious, good food, but a little on the pricey side for tacos. Overall a good place that I would return to. I got 2 carne asada tacos and one chicken taco. They come with just the protein and tortilla. The salsa bar is where you can make them to your liking. The bar has 6 different types of salsa, limes, cabbage, radishes, cucumbers, onions, and cilantro. It's kept clean which is nice. The steak itself was a bit on the tough side and the chicken really could have used more spices and char. The flour tortilla was excellent although I'd ordered corn. I didn't mind since I like flour better, just wanted the "healthier" option of corn. They give you a soda cup and you can fill and refill on your own which I like. The location is good for people on the Eastside between Speedway and Grant on Wilmot. Good place to hop over to if you're going to the nearby Costco. The place was clean, large seating area, large parking area, and the salsa bar has two rows with the same items so it's fast to use by multiple people. I only interacted with the cashier for a minute to place my order so no real feel about service. The price was on the high side at $5+ for each steak taco. Add in a drink and 3 tacos and the total came out to $21.49. Not quite the $13-15 I'm used to spending at other street taco places. I'm a sucker for a good salsa bar so I'll always rate these places on the high side as long as there's nothing bad about the food. Doesn't have to be the best since I let the pico and salsa drive the taste.

    a taco tote sign in front of a restaurant
    Shawndrea T.

    The food was ok .. I got 1 chicken taco and a order of beans and rice. The taco was flavorful and a good size.. the beans were good the rice was just ok. Now as for the service.. it's not a place you come to if you're looking for that. I thanked them more than they thanked me. The workers looked like they would rather be somewhere else and didn't care how it came across. When it comes to atmosphere there is none.. a room with stalls and a salsa and condiment bar in the middle. It ran me $10 and honestly the food is not good enough for me to go back. They need better customer service. Period! That makes all the difference. This is the Wilmot location.

    Carne asada nachos
    Stephanie O.

    My family has been a lover of el taco tote for many many years! They used to have an incredible self-serve salsa bar. Due to COVID (we visited in April, it could be different now), you have to order your salsa with your meal. My friend and I are salsa lovers, so of course we didn't get enough as we would've gotten for ourselves if it was self-serve. Other than that, the food was as delicious as it always is. We tried the nachos for the first time and they were good too! Their chips are some of my favorite because of how fresh they taste. They also have delicious rice and beans. Try this place out!

    Karina V.

    We come here quite often and it's quite nostalgic. We usually get the platter for 4 and the nachos. Everything is consistently delicious and I love the salsa bar. Sometimes the food comes out very spaced out. This last time our nachos came out after we finished our platter. At that point we weren't hungry anymore.

    Shrimp taco (not deveined)
    Amber R.

    My husband is a regular here and loves the carne asada tacos. I tried the fish taco and a shrimp taco. The fish taco was tasty, but I forgot to ask for cabbage and pico, so it was plain - but i had salsa and lime to add to it. I think they normally have a nice Salsa bar that would have had all the fixings, however because of COVID you have to ask for all the extras. The shrimp taco had a really flavorful salsa/pico already on it, however the shrimp were not deveined, which for me is important; although I understand for some it is not an issue. The restaurant was clean, but could use some TLC.

    Jonnita W.

    My all-time favorite at this location visiting it for the first time, is the salsa bar! This is something a lot of Mexican restaurants should have in their locations if they also offer self serve salsa bars. This is the biggest one I have seen out of many locations that I have visited in California but not this particular restaurant name. The food here was pretty good. I also like how once you place your order they give you a number to put on your table and in Associate brings the food out to you but before that he brings you some chips and salsa as well. Very very popular spot as there were people walking in continuously placing their orders for sit down or even just to pick up and take home. I might have to visit here one more time before leaving the area to go back to California. I'm giving four stars mainly because I did not use the restroom facilities so I'm unsure on how that area of the location was maintained. But the customer service here was great.

    One of the milder sauces
    Troy C.

    We were introduced to El Taco Tote by some friends that are Tucson locals. We went to the Tote with them last year and return again by ourselves (they weren't in town) when we returned to again Tucson this year. We wanted to taste a variety of flavors so the wife and I got four different meated tacos...Chicken Adobado, Pork Adobado, Beef Sirloin, and Beef Barbacoa. We opted for flour tortillas on all the tacos but both the corn and flour tortillas and made fresh. Everything was tasty, the four tacos along with a baked potato and complimentary chips and salsa bar were plenty of food for the two of us. The wife's favorite was the Pork Adobado, I agree it was very good. I found the Sirloin to be very good but learned it is better if eaten while hot and fresh. The barbacoa was a bit stringy and dry in the wife's opinion, I agree with that but would add that it was plenty flavorful and the dryness is easily overcome with a good salsa selection. I really enjoy the salsa options available at El Taco Tote, I like it hot so I found most if not all enjoyable, the wife thought all but the avocado sauce were too hot. I like that they have an option for a baked potato. This is A unique and enjoyable option that is not found at most "fast-food" Mexican restaurants

    Worst customer service comes from her

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    12 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Had been there a couple of times , but this last time I got food poisoning from it..Dissapointed

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    12 years ago

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    8 years ago

    There food is good the service and hospitality is terrible !!! This review is based on multiple visits!!!

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    8 years ago

    Dirty dirty dirty. They charge for refills who does that, answer no one. The guacamole was like baby snot. Just no

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    9 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Finally went here after driving by for many client meetings. Their pico de gallo and full salsa bar is fantastic!

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    15 years ago

    The family style meal is delicious. The chicken is tender and tasty, the corn tortillas are freshly made and the beams are delicious.

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Don't get the nachos. Nachos obviously aren't traditional Mexican food, but these were made with cheese sauce and poor quality chicken.

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Good food tacos are hooked up authentic Mexican food the guacamole was just right and the meat was tender

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    14 years ago

    Great bean n cheese "tacos". Unlimited chips and salsa bar. Lots of different flavors of salsa, plus cucumbers, peppers, radish etc.

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    14 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Salsa bar was good, but the cheese sauce on the panchos were kind of disappointing, but overall not bad.

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    10 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Best authentic Mexican joint for a "fast food" joint. Outstanding salsa bar PLUS Modelo! No one at the table could finish their burrito!

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    Guadalajara Original Grill

    Guadalajara Original Grill

    3.9
    (1.6k reviews)
    6.0 mi
    $$

    This was my first time visiting a Guadalajara Grill in Tucson, and in years. I was overall quite…read morehappy with our experience. The interior is visually congested, not in a bad way but with lots of decor, seating, movement areas and etc. It makes a feeling of the space being busy and distracting. I prefer calmer spaces but it's not terrible. Service was prompt, frequent and wonderful. An older woman came by and asked how we wanted salsa and made us a bowl which was INCREDIBLE! So savory, spicy, fresh and left me wanting more. (You get a certain amount salsa and chips per person than you gotta pay). It was literally perfect. We weren't super hungry and wanted to share, to us the serving was more than enough for two. We enjoyed a house rocks margarita, grilled steak fajitas with rice and beans, sides of sour cream and guacamole and also some chips and salsa. It was all very well made, came out steaming and was very satisfying. The space felt cold to me, but seemed fine to all else. So just a note there if you run on the warmer side. I don't know if they do reservations, but I would imagine on some nights it would be a good idea seeing as they seem very busy.

    Ugh! I feel genuinely bad about giving this place three stars because it has all the makings of…read morebeing a five stars if not for one very important thing...the food. Which, you know, is kind of the whole point of a restaurant. The atmosphere was great, a little on the nose, but great none the less. It feels like a Mexican dinner or at least what I imagined a dinner in Mexico would look like. The staff where beyond amazing, especially the woman who made our complementary salsa right at the table. And the salsa was yummy but sadly that's the only part of the meal that I can say that about. The thing is, nothing was truly bad, but just about everything was incredibly bland. You'd have expected someone who puts raisins in potato salad to have served it, not an authentic Mexican restaurant. Though the positive is the lack of seasoning is really the only major problem. The food did not have any weird taste, it wasn't dry, the presentation was fine. It simply needs to be seasoned and this place goes to a solid 4/5 rather than a three.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Table made salsa
    Table made salsa
    Table made salsa

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    Table made salsa
    Tumerico

    Tumerico

    4.8
    (1.5k reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$

    Last year for 2025, Tucson took six coveted spots on Yelp's 100 Best Places to Eat in 2025. This…read moreyear there is only one spot at #32 and it goes to Tumerico, a vegan place. You bet your ass I am going to check it out on this Taco Tuesday. Okay, the guy that greets you welcomes every customer with wide open arms. I mean, never ever have I ever met someone that awesome!!!! He walked us through the menu that seemed to have a hundred plus items. We were so overwhelmed. He told us his favorite and that is what my son ordered. The guy took the time to ask what we were in the mood for. And as we were leaving he shouted goodbye all across the room. When someone is that happy, it's infectious. Here is what we ordered: - Chocohata (authentic Oaxacan chocolate) - Mesquite Latte - Frida Khalo Tostadas - Chile Relleno - Taco Plate Warning: portions are huge!! Everything is so fresh and delicious. Vegan at its best. I could not tell that I was not eating meat. I can see how it made it to the top 100. The hours on the business page is incorrect but I am too lazy to make the correction so make sure you look it up on Google.

    TL;DR: If I were blindfolded, I would never have guessed this was vegetarian/vegan. Amazing…read moreexperience and will absolutely be coming back. For what it's worth, I don't necessarily agree with Yelp's rating that Turmeric is the #1 (!) spot to eat in America. That's a stretch. HAVING SAID THAT, Turmeric is doing everything right and is outstanding in every way. The service the minute you walk in is friendly, patient, and welcoming. The salsa bar is well-stocked and flavorful. Coffee for while you wait, which honestly isn't long even when it's busy. The turnover on tables is fast because the food comes out hot and fresh, you can't stop eating The cuban tacos!!! Wow - really couldn't have told you the difference between these and actual meat tacos. Juicier than most and definitely more flavorful than any other vegetarian option I've ever had. The Freida tacos were alright - a little blander than I had hoped and wasn't trying to be anything other than a veg taco. Personally, get the Cuban tacos. You won't regret it. Promise. Salud, Tumerico!

    Photos
    Dining area vibe
    Dining area vibe
    Chefs custom plate with two tacos, tamale and mole enchiladas
    Chefs custom plate with two tacos, tamale and mole enchiladas
    Entrance

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    Entrance
    Amelias Mexican Kitchen

    Amelias Mexican Kitchen

    4.4
    (707 reviews)
    8.7 mi
    $$

    Pretty good. Pretty good. Of the four of us who gathered to dine here last Friday, (late summer of…read more2026), three in our party raved about their meals, and had nothing but high-praise for the experience. We three, actually loved everything about AMELIAS. Us three (*let's just call them "the cool ones"), were wowed by the taste of our food and noted that the plate presentations were kinda cool-- and a little "more-fancy" than what is typically placed down upon the table at your typical Mexican food restaurants. AMELIAS adds a bit of "pizazz" and "decorum" to their menu items--like edible flowers that float in your margarita, or wavy lines of crema that dance on the seas of flavorful sauces that accompany the tamales, 'chiladas, and relleno plates served here. Three-forths of us also noted how attentive and friendly those who served us were. And... we (the cool ones) also all noticed how the warm, cheerful, and welcoming ambiance and decor of the place added to the enjoyment of our meal. (*Play Debbie-downer walk-up music) One in our group...(dramatic pause)... was notably quiet and reserved when it was her turn to rave about her dish. This person, smiled and shared that she thought her food was, "pretty good." But, now that I think about it...her praise was kinda limited, and she, indeed, was a bit reticent. I would find out later, as we lay in bed that night, that one in our group had not enjoyed her meal as much the other three had. Apparently, the cheese and chicken enchiladas dish that was ordered was not to this person's liking, and she added that she thought the service was "just okay". Not wanting to bring-down the mood of the evening, this person played along and didn't criticize. Now, I am not trained in psychology, but if feels like...(how do I put this delicately?)... okay. (*the writer thinks for a bit). Sometimes... when one in our party does not get to pick the restaurant that we are going to try, it seems to me... that...(dramatic pause as I try to find just the right words to say this).. I seems to me... that...This person is just, "not going to enjoy" the place that was picked, no matter how good it is. There! I said it. And while I'm on the subject... your mom is just like this too. And now you know the rest of my story. Let's summarize: AMELIAS is a very good restaurant and you will enjoy the heck out of your meal. Unless, of course, you insist on being the one who picks where your group goes out to eat-- and you don't get your way. Then, you will find it to be, "pretty good", but complain about it later in bed. (I know this is supposed to be a restaurant review, and not a mini-soap opera. But I hope you enjoyed our little dive into the phycology of relationships.) Until next time, this is the guy who will be sleeping on the couch for a night or two if my beloved happens to read this. (lol--she will find humor in this...and, of course, disagree with my "junior-phycologist" interpretation of why she thought Amelias was just okay. )

    Wow, wow, wow!! We were craving Mexican while traveling and stopped by on a Saturday night. You…read moreknow it's gonna be good when folks are waiting outside to be seated. The food was creative while maintaining that fabulous fresh, handmade Mexican flavor profile. Absolutely delicious! Pricing landed somewhere in the $$ amount per person including beverage and appetizer. Very fair for the level of hand-crafting going into every dish. We didn't have a reservation (highly recommend getting one for busy times) and were happy to sit where they could fit us. Our server Louie was EXCELLENT. He walked us through the entire menu in 3 minutes and we felt confident ordering. He also suggested an amazing appetizer featuring chilies stuffed with cheese and shrimp and wrapped in bacon . I ordered the Fajitas Mixtas for my main as I wanted to try several meats. Hubby ordered the shrimp enchiladas with both green and red sauce. Both were beautiful and delicious. I also tried the mocktail that had prickly pear puree. It was delicious and refreshing. The menu had options available for folks seeking Gluten Free, too. Amelia's was decked out with modern, slightly edgy decor that was welcoming and exciting. Seating for wheelchair users could easily be accommodated by dining table chair removal. The Oracle Street location isn't huge, but the staff does a fantastic job getting folks in and you won't feel cramped. I could definitely see the place needing to expand due to popularity someday soon. Go and you won't regret it. This has made the list for returning to the next time we're in town!

    Photos
    Breakfast burritos at lunch time
    Breakfast burritos at lunch time
    2 QUESABIRRIAS W/RICE & BEANS, CALDO (Juice meat)
    2 QUESABIRRIAS W/RICE & BEANS, CALDO (Juice meat)
    Beef Tamales con Juevos with black beans

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    Beef Tamales con Juevos with black beans
    La Yaquesita Mexican Cuisine

    La Yaquesita Mexican Cuisine

    4.6
    (109 reviews)
    6.3 mi
    $$

    Delicious food with a very relaxed and inviting atmosphere. The service was excellent. Highly…read morerecommend the Jarritos Paloma, it's delicious! I stopped in for lunch and the food and drinks really hit the spot. I also love all the plants on the patio. It feels like eating at Abuelita's house.

    Overall, the service was good and the food tasted good, but the pricing didn't quite match the…read moreculinary experience for me. Honestly, I wish I could give Yaquesita a little more, maybe half a star more, because this place definitely has potential. Their flavors are good, but compared to similar restaurants the menu feels a bit overpriced. For a party of three we ended up paying around $100, which felt like a bit much for what we got. The restaurant itself is pretty small with only about 3-4 tables inside, but the patio is a decent size and has a cute vibe. It's actually a nice option on cooler days if you don't mind sitting outside. Some items were better than others. The wet-style burrito was delicious and definitely a highlight. The quesabirrias were good, however the birria felt more like fancier shredded beef. It was missing that rich, spicy, slightly acidic, earthy flavor that usually sets birria apart from barbacoa or traditional shredded beef dishes. The bowl was just okay and had lots of lettuce. It felt more like a salad with a bit of meat, rice, and beans. Honestly, Chipotle does bowls better, and that says a lot considering the price. The nachos were good, but I've had better. Seis Kitchen has amazing nachos to share. That said, it's definitely a place I'd come back to mainly out of convenience, not because one particular item on the menu won my heart. I really do hope they continue refining the menu because the flavors are there and this place could easily become a standout spot. Personally I just think at the total price of my ticket other restaurants should not even have room in my mind during my meal. If you're in the area and looking for a safe bet where everyone will probably find something they like, it's worth giving them a try.

    Photos
    A glimpse of the decor
    A glimpse of the decor
    Sonora Hot Dogs and fries
    Sonora Hot Dogs and fries
    2 Piece Quesabirrias IG: ea_yelpelite

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    2 Piece Quesabirrias IG: ea_yelpelite

    El Taco Tote - mexican - Updated August 2026

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