Happy Taco

134

307

767

12 days ago

Got a chorizo breakfast burrito and it came with chips. The burrito was flavorful and good portion. Good service very friendly. read more

Happy Taco - Chorizo breakfast burrito - Mexican Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Jim A.

9

309

203

10 months ago

Had lunch here. I ordered one carne asada taco. The tacos are on a very small tortilla. They are essentially street tacos. However, they really do a nice job filling them with meat. They do not skimp on the meat. With the addition of diced onions and cilantro the taco tasted very good. Though it was only the size of a street taco it was filling. read more

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KC C.

5

461

1836

7 months ago

With so many taquerias around here, how do you know where to go? Well, Happy Taco says it all; I was definitely happy with my choice of a carne asada regular burrito. It was full of tasty meat, beans and rice. If you want the works, opt for the super burrito with quoc, cheese and sour cream. This is gonna be my new go-to when I'm in the area. read more

Happy Taco - Carne asada regular burrito. - Mexican Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Evie H.

508

794

544

2 years ago

Quick and easy place to grab tacos with a convenient location on the way back to highway 92. Also with indoor seating and a huge parking lot which was a plus. Tacos were okay. Plenty of meat topped with lots of onions and cilantro. Tried the Al pastor, carne asada and the chorizo. My one gripe is that the meats were all overcooked and dry which was unfortunate because otherwise there was decent flavor. Self serve station with green and red salsa, radishes, and pickled carrots and jalapeños available. Unsure if will return, too bad meats were so dry! read more

Happy Taco - Chorizo, al pastor, carne asada - Mexican Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Happy Taco - Mexican Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Barbara S.

5

130

314

1 year ago

Been coming over the mountain for 30+ years for a super burrito and taco. Service is always pleasant and quick in the little clean Mexican cafe. Food has always been consistent with taste and quantity. The salsa bar is not elaborate but always filled with wholesome sauces. The aqua fresca is great and not overloaded with sugar. Highly recommend! read more

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Anirban S.

26

49

2

5 months ago

The people at the counter are very nice and friendly but the food itself was just okay. I had the al pastor burrito and while the burrito was filling enough, the taste wasn't quite right for al pastor. I'll come back though as it's one of the few places open later, so maybe they'll change my mind the next time. read more

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Marie B.

53

52

2

3 months ago

Sadly, I ate here for the last time today. The food quality and quantity have gone downhill while the prices have gone way up. This is understandable given the state of things but it just isn't worth it any longer. They really need to check out Taqueria El Timon. This is how it should be done. Extremely fresh, abundant, very very tasty aand not exorbitant. Sorry HT, you had your day I guess. Hard dry carnitas and startle chips ruined it for me. read more

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Ana L.

0

5

6

5 months ago

Great food, I always love coming here after work or as a quick grab for dinner! Always great service and the agua frescas are always great. Lots of booths and tv's inside. read more

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Jesus's Brother U.

0

59

16

5 months ago

I feel the same way with one star reviews. They don't put what there board says. Always missing ingredients. Won't be coming back. Pay for a burrito, except what ingredients are included. Then leaving ingredients out. Forget about this place. You order your food should be what people read. Fish and chips sound better. I agree with Sara F. Did the same. Dislike to write these reviews, but the truth is the truth. read more

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estevan avila ..

0

31

0

4 months ago

Excellent chorizo & egg burrito with quality simple flavors. Huevos rancheros also very good. Enchiladas were good, mole good. Menudo on Sunday mornings seem to be highly popular as people show up with large containers for takeaway and night shift workers come in for large bowl & a beer. Overall my view is best Mexican restaurant on that part of coast, although Redwood City still has some superior quality/ options in taquerias. read more

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Hungry B.

0

5

1

3 months ago

This taqueria is the real deal. The value is incredible, for what you pay, it's absolutely worth it. And I actually prefer the taste over some of the pricier taquerias. It just tastes more authentic. The service is very fast & kind. The seating isn't fancy or anything, pretty basic, but it suits them. I'd go for the wet burrito or chile rellenos. read more

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Chris K.

88

53

1

8 months ago

Best burrito in half moon bay. Red salsa and pickled jalapeños, carrots and onion are all good. Reasonably priced by Bay Area standards.

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Archie B.

11

25

85

1 year ago

I just wish they were better salsas. I had the Super Breakfast Burrito for lunch and it's good. read more

Happy Taco - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Sara F.

0

19

23

1 year ago

This place is a scam! Charged $34 for two super burritos to go and they left off cheese, guacamole and sour cream on both. All we got were dry bland sad burritos. Stay far away or double check your entire order if you do go. So disappointing! read more

Happy Taco - This is a sad carne asada super burrito that's missing everything but loaded up on rice - Mexican Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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G K.

1

94

22

1 year ago

Easy ordering, nice salsa bar, they had 'small' size burritos as an option. Perfect size for us. Tacos had generous portion of meat and toppings. Restaurant was clean and ample parking. read more

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E. C.

0

10

0

1 year ago

They never put pico on my nachos and their pozole isn't very good. Overall flavor is fine - service is ok.

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Jose N.

0

30

4

2 years ago

I always stop by when I'm out here, excellent service and tacos were really good! They serve alcohol and have a small salsa bar with a couple big screen TV's if you'd like to watch a game, no complaints evrything is great here. read more

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Nicolette M.

5

16

10

1 year ago

We had lunch here. Both ordered fish tacos with rice and beans. The taco was good. Nothing special. The rice was without taste and the beans had no seasoning. Most disappointing were the chips. They did not seem homemade but rather purchased. One of the other Mexican places makes them themselves. I could not eat the chips, it was very disappointing. The service was good. Not necessarily friendly but not rude. When visiting another Mexican place, a patron told us that Happy Taco made the best fish taco. They were very wrong. Maybe if we had only ordered tacos, this review might be different. We wanted to try another mom-and-pop restaurant, so we gave this place a try. We were very disappointed. We will stick with our favorite, Taqueria La Mordida. read more

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Elizabeth I.

60

667

3263

2 years ago

very good food..Wonderful service.I got their tiny burrito with rice and pinto beans to go. yummy all the way. I recommend this place read more

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Ozcan D.

0

8

2

1 year ago

Best burritos in town, tacos are legendary. Top mexican food is here. Definitely recommended

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Janis M.

0

40

7

2 years ago

I traveled to Half Moon bay for family. It was late and Happy Taco was still open. I would highly recommend!! The food is great. The staff are extremely friendly. Great Experience Thank you read more

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Bianca S.

9

62

90

3 years ago

This is a fast pace lunch hurry up eat and go place. I got my food to go. Post pandemic I an not a fan of traffic. This place has it, good traffic. The chicken was good. Eating in my office I enjoyed my meal, the prices are average the the wait time is short. Who ever is managing this place kudos! Lunch for all, from a plate to just some tacos. The have aguas frescas, horchata with extra ice hits the spot. Conveniently located in a local shopping center before making your way down or up the coast. This was a good authentic bite. I am calling this a hidden gem. You may or may not get a table, but its clean and they have a salsa bar. Chips cost money, don't complain. read more

Happy Taco - Inside - Mexican Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Happy Taco - Super Wet Burrito of Pollo Asado, large horchata. - Mexican Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Cid Y.

298

91

74

2 years ago

This was always my go-to place in Half Moon Bay for quick, delicious & fresh soft carne asada Tacos. Recently, it "seems" that the ownership or staff has changed. The interior is the same, but it just "feels" different. The small indications are: it takes a while longer to get your food, and the carne asada seems to have a tad more gristle in it, plus l no longer see the usual woman l recall who always took our orders for so many years (and who's sister worked at the Dry Cleaners at Pillarcitos Square). If anyone knows can you shed some light on my inkling ... have the original owners sold the business? read more

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Melissa C.

33

28

22

2 years ago

My husband and I have been coming here for 40 years. The food is always good. The people are always friendly. It's a great atmosphere. Very homie. read more

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Michelle M.

248

2487

989

4 years ago

Haven't been back here for a while. We decided to hit it up again before going home. Well, I don't think we'll be back after this trip. I wasn't a fan of my bean and cheese burrito. The flavor of the beans were strange. And my husband ordered a carne asada burrito, and said it looked strange and the flavor was off too. We both didn't feel great, not food poisioning, but for sure not a happy tummy if you get my drift? Adios and good luck Happy Taco. read more

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Janina C.

0

2

0

1 year ago

The best chicken burrito ever. I I always make a point to come and have a meal when I'm here visiting! Excellent

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James L.

54

33

1

2 years ago

Just an update from my previous review and that is Happy Taco takes credit card for many years now. They are still my favorite taqueria in the area (though you can't go wrong with Tres Amigos or Mordida). The people that work here are all friendly and look like they enjoy being here. read more

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Lani S.

0

12

0

2 years ago

I was there 3/20/24 their Al pastor burrito is to die for. I love their Al pastor, it's the best pastor in the coast. Thank you Happy Tacos for my delicious food. read more

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Raghubir C.

0

1

0

2 years ago

Super burrito was dry, carne asada was flavor-wise was pretty good though. Service was really good, they are very nice & fast! read more

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James M.

2

118

0

2 years ago

I had the chicken enchilada plate today, stuffed myself silly with delicious Mexican food for $11.99. A wonderful hole in the wall. Still 5 stars, very friendly too read more

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Tina Y.

0

11

8

2 years ago

Everything from customer service to food was stellar!! The price is great too lots of locals and people coming in and out is a telling sign of great food read more

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Sean K.

0

7

0

2 years ago

Ordered a steak quesadilla it was soaked in sour cream and the "steak" was old hamburger that tasted terrible. I wasn't happy with Happy Taco and didn't eat the terrible food. read more

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David A.

Elite 23

19

124

49

2 years ago

We were desperate for Mexican food, and there is very little to offer in Half Moon Bay, so we stopped by here, and really like it. Can we start by talking about the adorable Señora who works at the register? She made us feel like family, and I could have talked with her all night. I would come back just to see her if I didn't like the food lol. My partner and I had enchilada de pollo asado(grilled chicken) and shrimp Ala Diabla. The plates were simple, with rice and beans. The meat was delicious, and the camarones (shrimp) were definitely "diabla"! Not for the sensitive tongue! Spicy and delicious. The lady that brought us our food was super nice also. I know the place was going to be good when everyone coming in and out was Mexican, and I could hear cumbias being played in the kitchen! The place is not fancy, in fact it is certainly a hole in the wall, but grab your food here if you want a delicious authentic meal while in HMB! read more

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Cindy T.

86

60

212

3 years ago

OMG best flavorful tacos in a while! Service was quick and contrary to a comment I saw the chips are included with the order. Caught it on a super quiet and mellow late lunch hour so plenty of seats available. Will definitely come back! read more

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Ben P.

193

62

31

3 years ago

My favorite restaurant for Mexican food in the HMB area. The service is friendly and accommodating with taking your order and prepare the food in a timely manner. The restaurant is small with booth seating and a salsa bar. The menu items are fair priced with generous portions . Highly recommend if you are a local or just driving through area and want quality Mexican food . read more

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Colleen T.

115

4

0

3 years ago

Everything is delicious. Family owned , they take credit cards ( some Mexican restaurants on the coast only accept cash) fresh off the grill.. no charge for chips . Have salsa bar. read more

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Theo T.

Elite 24

1350

617

954

7 years ago

This place was awesome! The staff was super friendly and quick. They also gave me a deliciously spicy custom salsa that really made our food extra yummy! We ended up getting the Fish Taco, Carne Asada Taco, and the Super Quesadilla. All of it was so good! The tortillas weren't too starchy or dry and the protein wasn't greasy either. Everything was delicious! Can't wait to come back here again! Definitely gonna get more Fish Tacos next time! read more

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Teri W.

191

83

41

4 years ago

Love Happy Taco! The tacos are amazing. I can't get enough of them. I'm sad because we have to move and I can't run to Happy Taco whenever I want once that happens. The other thing that's cool about this awesome place is the lady that takes the orders. It seems very family oriented and she always remembers us. They also have delicious desserts. read more

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Geoff Y.

1

31

8

7 years ago

Hands down the best menudo and tortillas I've ever tasted, and they consistently deliver high quality. Weekends are the time to go, because that's when the menudo and the birria is available. The birria con chivas is outstanding and HUGE. You can feed two from a large menudo or a birria. This is one of the few taquerias that offers tripas on a regular basis, and you can even get tripas burritos. I've taken loads of people here for tacos, and everyone raves about it. The dining area is kept clean, and the staff is helpful and friendly. Highly recommended! Without question the best taqueria on the coast, and possibly the best restaurant on the coast. read more

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More info about Happy Taco

184 San Mateo Rd
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Directions
(650) 726-5480
Call Now
Visit Website
http://halfmoonbay-restaurants.com/the-happy-taco-taqueria

Hours

What time does Happy Taco open?

Happy Taco opens at 8:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Happy Taco close?

Happy Taco closes at 10:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mon-Sun 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Payment methods

Does Happy Taco take credit cards?

Yes, Happy Taco takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Happy Taco have catering options?

Yes, Happy Taco does have catering options.

Does Happy Taco have a happy hour?

No, Happy Taco does not have a happy hour.

Does Happy Taco serve alcohol?

Yes, Happy Taco serves alcohol. Beer & Wine Only

Indoor Amenities

Does Happy Taco have TVs?

Yes, Happy Taco has TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Happy Taco have bike parking?

Yes, Happy Taco has bike parking.

Does Happy Taco have outdoor seating?

Yes, Happy Taco has outdoor seating options.

Does Happy Taco have parking?

Yes, Happy Taco has parking options. Private Lot Parking

Other Amenities

Does Happy Taco have free WiFi?

No, Happy Taco does not have free WiFi.

More Info

Health Score

Happy Taco Reviews in Other Languages

Spanish
1 Review

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I had an excellent posole at this restaurant. I asked for extra salad because I eat it for two…read moremeals. The staff was very kind and accommodating. They gave me ample lettuce, avocado, onion, cilantro and radish. I got two hot sauces too and they were very spicy. The posole is rich and savory, with very tender pork and hominy. The broth is deep in flavor, but not overly oily. The salad really helps with the richness, and also offers a nice crunchy texture. Posole takes a long time to make, so it is only available at the weekend I believe. Go get some!

12/5/26. I came in one more time. This time, I just wanted their pozole. They did 't have pozole…read morethis time but yoooooooo........ GUESS WHAT?! THEY HAVE THEIR ORIGINAL RED SAUCE AGAIN!!! Yassssssss! I am SUPER HAPPY and GRATEFUL. Bump them to 5 stars again. WoOhOo!!! Awesome service as per usual. Ambiance is still the same. Spanish music playing and it's loud inside when they get busy.

Chicken Super Burrito and a medio litro of Coke.

Tacos! Al pastor and carnitas. Both excellent, especially the Al pastor.

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My family and I had a delicious meal Saturday. The food was…read moreincredibly fresh and absolutely delicious. My chicken burrito bowl yummy. All the food was excellent. We devoured the GF key lime pie. If you want delicious food, give this place a try you will be glad you did. Bon appétit

Such an interesting restaurant. So you can walk in to the front door and order from the bartender…read moreand then find a seat or go to the back patio and order from the bartender back there. I would suggest going to the patio. Because it's a very open concept place, there are flies literally everywhere but that's al fresco dining. The fish tacos were unfortunately very disappointing as was the burrito bowl. If you're looking for quick and filling this place is it but if you're looking for authentic then this is not it. The prices are a bit high as well. The chips and salsa were delicious and I bet the drinks are too. Would love to go back and just chill, have drinks and apps some time.

FUN TIMES!! Great bar area with even Better Margaritas & beer selection! Stop by and have a great experience like we did!!

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4.2

(39 reviews)

0.3 mi

This place is probably the best burger spot on the coast, staff is super friendly, prices are…read moreabsolutely unbeatable, and the food is actually amazing. I bike here a lot and love that I can sit outside and watch my bike while I eat. This is my favorite restaurant in half moon bay. Super underrated.

Unassuming spot in Half Moon Bay for tacos, burgers and fried chicken. They seem to have it all but…read moreI only tried the baby burrito and taco. Baby burrito al pastor was tasty, meat seasoned well, and just the right size. Taco was the star of the show so I'd get that again. Carne was tasty and paired great with the salsa. Service was quick. About 7-10 min for my order tho it was about 4:30pm on a Friday so quite slow. Ambiance is mid. It faces the street and there are outside benches to sit at. I had just gotten back from a bike ride so I appreciated being able to sit within a stones throw away from the car/bike. If you're looking for something quick, more authentic than fast food, and variety of options, I'd check it out. Pricing also was fair.

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Taqueria Tres Amigos

We popped in here for Father's Day, and it was such a great experience! The restaurant looked…read moreincredibly festive, they decorated the spacious and pleasant atmosphere beautifully with multi color flags and balloons. The ordering setup is great: you order at the counter, get a number for your table, and the warm and welcoming staff brings everything out to you. Plus, the food came out quite fast! We ordered the fish and shrimp tacos, which came with generous, flavorful fillings. The burritos with fish were also fantastic, tostada was good too.but the absolute star of the show was the ceviche salad,it was easily the best and incredibly refreshing! We also loved checking out their great salsa bar. Most importantly, Dad was happy and absolutely loved it. We are so glad we stopped by and will happily return the next time we are in Half Moon Bay!

Love their tacos and quesadillas. This time I had a fish and a chicken taco. Both were great.read more

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Such good food and great atmosphere!! I got to bring my dog and we sit outside - it was so cute and…read morethe staff were so nice! Definitely recommend!

There is even the option to eat in the courtyard or backyard area.

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The best street tacos. The al pastor tacos are consistently perfectly seasoned and authentic:…read morecilantro,onions, green sauce, meat, fresh tortilla, limes. Perfecto the blanda and burritos are wonderful as well. Fresh ingredients always.

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Great Peruvian/mexican food truck! Fresh ingredients, delicious options, and filling portions…read morepresented beautifully. Some of the hot dishes can take a bit longer, but it's clearly freshly fried and always delicious so it's worth the minor wait. Lots of picnic benches in front of the food truck. Chicharron is chunks of crispy fried pork belly - great when you want some fatty porky indulgence. The red onions pair perfectly to cut through the richness, and the Peruvian corn nuts are a fun addition! Pollo Peruana is stewed chicken thighs. Tender and fell off the bone, but could've used a bit more salt. Still tasty with a nice side salad. Lechonada peruana is stewed pork belly chunks. Fatty juicy tender, and the pork comes on a bed of saucy fries for extra heft. I like to get it with extra salad instead of rice. Super good. I really need to come by on a weekend to try the anticuchos!

Pescado alo macho!!!! And fresh made tortilla chips good Hot salsa!

Mix it with the rice!

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4.0

(4 reviews)

0.3 mi

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Loved this place in all dimensions. We went for Saturday Dinner, got seated promptly with the…read moreReservation. The waitress was very friendly and helped me with my drink selection. We shared lomo saltado and braised pork shoulder. The pork was so tender and very well flavored. Lomo saltado was also amazing with really good quality of beef. Very tender. We were going to skip the dessert but so glad we didn't. The chocolate lava cake was one of the best I've had. It's served with homemade sweet potato ice cream and just every bite melted. Definitely would love to come back here again!

We had Sat lunch here, over all it is a pretty good experiance…read more We love seafood stew, adobo has big quantity of pork shoulder, Beet salad is good.. just one small thing: when waitress ask us any drinks we opt to just water, she ask us bottled water or tap water, We didn't think much just choose bottled water ( a bottle size like red wine) it turned out each bottle of water cost $10, we (5 of us) consumed 2 bottles in the meal, and at the same time when I looked at other tables, all have "tap" water served ( a glass jar of water with a piece lemon inside maybe..) No other table has the bottled water we had( Saratoga Still water, blue bottle, very distinct..) feeling being upsold on this, other than this the food mostly are pretty tasty and good...

Suspiro à la Limena ($14)

Cute decor up front

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Chicken Fajitas

It's Italia

Finally tried this place and so glad we did! The food was delicious and the service was above and…read morebeyond. I'm so sorry I don't have our waiter's name but he was one of the nicest, thoughtful and helpful people I have ever met in a restaurant. For dinner I had the peaches and cream salad which was so yummy! My husband and I split it. Next time he can get his own-I'm not sharing! I then had the flower market pizza. Very rich and delicious. Wound up taking a lot of it home which is fine. Also had a glass of white wine which I think was Vermentino. Please excuse the spelling. Recommend by our wonderful waiter and was perfect. My hubby had the lasagna which was huge. He took down the whole thing. Wonderful experience, highly recommend and we will be back!

Walk in and smell the garlic and you know it's going to be amazing!…read moreThe muscle and clams in broth were amazing ! I ordered garlic bread for dipping in the broth and I was in heaven. The meat ball appetizer was a preface consistency and not too dense, the sauce was full flavor perfection. I Highly recommend the bolognese and if you have a weirdo who doesn't want Italian, they graciously offer a hamburger which I'm told is pretty amazing according to our hamburger expert in our group. Their beef blend and seasoning in the burger takes it to another level. Lastly we ordered the Pizza. The crust was traditional and the cheese blend was so good everyone in our party had a taste or two! The service was great and our familia had a wonderful dining experience!

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Half Moon Bay Brewing Company

What a great place. We have driven by this place quite a few times (usually on the weekend) Always…read morebusy which is a good sign. We decided to stop here today since we were back in the area. It was Thursday afternoon so not slammed but still busy at 2pm. Nice place with a nice view of the harbor area. They have indoor and outdoor seating. We had a beer and ordered their Nachos. Very nice plate of Nachos well prepared (layered nicely with Black Beans at the bottom that you can get at and add to your chips as needed. All the other food that we saw looked amazing and I overheard people having great comments about their dish. Our server was Caitlin and she was fantastic. Helpful and did not ignore her tables and did a great job of checking back in. We will bring going back there. If you are in the area you should stop by and visit this place.

Came here for lunch at their new location on Main Street. It's a smaller restaurant compared to the…read moremain one in El Granada and also not very busy. There are a few tables outside but most of the seating was inside. There's a ramp for those who cannot go up steps to the main dining area. We were seated right away. The ambiance felt like a new restaurant - a little stark and has that newish vibe. We ordered some chicken tenders, Grilled Caesar salad with chicken ( added the protein) and protein style burger - swapped out the fries for broccoli. The tenders and salad were good. The burger was a little disappointing. Very few restaurants handle protein style (without the bun) well. The burger came with some sliced pieces of lettuce on top and bottom instead of wrapped around the burger so it was difficult to eat it as a burger. There was sautéed onions on the burger which tasted great and saved the burger, imo. The burger itself was very bland the broccoli was just blanched and not steamed so you're basically getting somewhat raw broccoli with no flavor whatsoever. We also tried the raspberry ale. My husband said the raspberry flavor was just too overpowering in the taste profile. Service was relatively good.

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The Barn

Wow delicious food and an amazing setting! You HAVE TO GO HERE if you are staying in Half Moon Bay…read moreor just driving by. Unfortunately they did not have milkshakes so we substituted with beer instead. The burgers were delicious, solid 8-9/10 The pretender burger had a very unique patty and was very good! The French fries were the star of the show, they are so fresh and delicious. The Mac attack was also unique.

The food here is below average. You can see stacks of already fried chcken, onion strings, chili…read moreetc. The freshly prepared items are limited to ground beef and fries. The burgers and fried chicken sandwiches are barely edible. Lacking flavor, temperature, seasoning, authenticity. These are basics. Make them as well as Popeyes or Burger King you win. The Barn does not win here. The chili is decent, but again, lacking seasoning and qualiity. The fries were well well well done, again, lacking seasoning. Decent item here was the milkshake. Edible, happy kids. The enviornment is nice. Child friendly, plenty of seating. I am a positive reviewer but cannot praise this place. It's average-

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Johnny's

I've been to Johnnys at least 7 times and it is always consistently delicious. I've tried many…read moredifferent dishes and my favorite one is the chiliquilles, not sure that's spelled correctly. But is the bomb !! The dish is beautifully presented and full of yummy surprises. It's my absolute favorite at the moment. The soups have been outstanding as well as their burgers, BLT's and salads. The restaurant itself is so fun and decorated perfectly as an upscale diner. The waitstaff are all very pleasant and accommodating. We used to eat at the original Johnny's with the opera singing chef. It was our Sunday "go to" for many years. We have seen many renditions of Johnnys through the years.... This one is is the only one to do it justice. Great job, Betsy, George and Miley !!

Have been here 3 times now, excellent food and service! Had the huevos rancheros and egg white…read moreomelet- both excellent. My daughter had avocado toast which was yummy too!! We were able to get right in on a weekday morning. Weekends might have longer waits. Only drawback for us with twins they only had one high chair but it worked. My absolute favorite are their potatoes!

Smoked salmon eggs Benedict

Fresh flowers

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Blackened salmon was delicious. Try it!

Dad's Luncheonette

Came here on a Sunday around noon and there were a few open empty seats inside as well as some…read moretables outside, but there were people at the restaurant. it's an order at the counter type of place. ~the food~ - Hamburger sandwich: pretty good! I really liked the pickled onion and the choice of white cheddar. I'd say overall it wasn't as greasy as a full burger which I really appreciated! - Mushroom sandwich: out of the 2 sandwiches this one was my favorite! The Maitake mushrooms were very tender and flavorful! - Homemade Potato chips: staff told us that this tends to sell out before the end of the day, but we were lucky enough to get an order of them and they were very very good! The addition of nutritional yeast in the seasoning added a lot of great to the chips! - Herb salad: super refreshing salad, this salad is made with all herbs and the lemon dressing that they used was very light and refreshing, which I think balanced out the rest of the meal! ~overall~ I definitely recommend dad's luncheonette for a quick bite. The staff were very friendly and the food was really good. Everything tasted very fresh and not too heavy.

Experience (4/5 stars): *Food: hamburger sandwich was…read moreflavorful! what made it was the red onion pickles. bummed that they ran out of the homemade potato chips and sweet of the week. *Price: ~$15.50 for the sammich Overall, it's a yes!

Chocolate Cherry Coconut Pudding

Menu

Hamburger Sandwich

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31 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Walter C.

311

68

11

4 years ago

Don't go here if you're looking for friendly quality service. And I wouldn't suggest going here if you're not Mexican either. I hate to say it, but I'm going to call a spade a spade. My wife and I got overcharged for a taco plate; how do we know we got overcharged? Because one of our best friends (who is Mexican) bought the same exact plate as us, and got charged less. To top it all off, the woman who calls out order numbers was ruuuude as hell to my wife. She called out "32" and since my wife misplaced the little ticket with the number on it, the lady proceeded to call out "32" even louder. Afterwards, she called out "crispy fish tacos" so we knew the order was ours. She seemed quite upset that she had to look for us since our number got misplaced. Nonetheless, my wife was super nice and apologetic to the woman about misplacing our ticket/order number. My wife said "I'm so sorry, I misplaced the order number". Afterwards, the lady CLEARLY showed her frustration by rolling her eyes and mean mugging my wife. (Mean mugging = giving the death stare) which was totally unacceptable because my wife was being polite. It's clear that the woman who was calling out order numbers lacks basic customer service and people skills. If you're working at a restaurant, you need to understand that sometimes people will misplace their order numbers. And if you have to look for your customer, so be it. Look for your customer. People are spending money to eat here. We don't want our meal to be tainted with horrible energy. I personally won't ever come back to this establishment. And I STRONGLY advise anyone who cares about the energy behind their meal, not to spend their money here either. Hopefully, someone speaks to this woman in regards to her bad attitude. Because at the end of the day, the food industry is all about kindness, compassion and quality service. Everyone should be treated equally, no matter what. After all of that drama. The food wasn't even worth it. If you're in the area, I highly recommend going across highway 1 to Taqueria La Mordita instead. The people over there are hellllllla nice and friendly. And their open bar has chips, salsa and a bunch of great fixings read more

Curt C.

0

3

0

14 years ago

I'm originally from SoCal and finding a good taqueria or Mexican restaurant in the Bay Area that tastes authentically good is pretty difficult. This place is awesome. I especially love their carnitas. The carnitas burritos are to die for. Juicy meat and perfectly grilled. Even just plain old cheese enchiladas are great. The salsas are spot on. I could drink the stuff. I usually call my order in ahead of time. There can be a bit more of a wait than you'd care for if you don't. read more

Jeremy F.

0

15

0

17 years ago

I've eaten at Happy Taco at least 1000 times (no exaggeration) and have had everything on the menu aside from the menudo and caldo de res. Not once have I had an unpleasant experience, in fact I always walk out "happy". On the weekends they have hand made tortillas that are amazing with their rellenos, but realistically just about everything there makes me happy. By far the best Taqueria on the coast and easily one of the best in the Bay Area. read more

Kathy B.

6

18

2

13 years ago

Great little Mexican restaurant with good service and good food. It is not fancy but clean and everyone is always friendly. Large portions could easily feed two people. Conveniently located with plenty of parking in the New Leaf Plaza. If you want Mexican food, fast and a "come as you are" atmosphere, I highly recommend Happy Taco. read more

Daniel K.

5

61

2

18 years ago

My favorite Mexican restaurant! Ambiance and location - none....but that's ok...the food is good!! I always order the reg. burrito with pastor + hot sauce - not too big and sloppy...just right! I have a business in HMB and go there at least 2 a wk. A lot of locals here...it must be their secret so I'm spreading the word! read more

Alan S.

0

10

0

9 years ago

In my opinion the best Mexican food on the coast side. Never miss a chance to go there when I want Mexican food. Good clean restaurant with good service. Love the burritos and fish tacos. Great diversity of menu not normally seen in restaurants of that size. Making it much more than a taqueria. Good safe place for children. read more

Libby G.

0

3

0

17 years ago

I have been going to Happy Taco for years now. It is hands down the BEST mexican food on the coast. They are friendly and pretty fast, and the food is consistently great. Try the pollo asado nachos, or super shrimp burrito, or carnitas plate. Delicious!!!! read more

Stephen J.

42

25

0

14 years ago

Great food. We usually call in our order when we are heading over 92 so it is ready when we get there. We love there steak quesadilla, bean and cheese burrito with pinto beans, and the salsa bar especially the red sauce I believe it may be a chipotle sauce. read more

Elisa P.

0

25

0

9 years ago

The Happy Taco is the best! I've been here many, many times and you really can't beat it for portion size, price, and quality. Consistently delicious. Would highly recommend the carnitas, nachos, and wet burritos! read more

Rob E.

0

6

0

13 years ago

Happy taco is the place for authentic and best priced Mexican food. They are quick and even when there is long lines I get my food fast. My go to order is the carne asada ANYTHING. Can't go wrong! read more

John K.

0

1

4

13 years ago

Happy Taco is basically as good as it gets. If you are a fan of any food represented on the menu, happy t will deliver that food just as you imagined, if not better! read more

Orchid S.

0

8

0

15 years ago

So friendly and happy to see us when we stop by. I like the tacos my hubby likes the burritos. We both like the chips. Think I will see if he wants to go tonight. read more

Crystal B.

80

66

111

14 years ago

always fresh. always friendly. always a great price!!! a large portion..... so i now i have leftovers for later!! :] Great location!! fun load music. love them!! read more

Andrew B.

2

84

7

8 years ago

Everything is excellent here. I eat here three times a week. The service is also excellent and very friendly.

Hmbheather -.

1

16

1

16 years ago

This place is the real deal... Amazing at "to go" orders. Hot, fast and full of flavor. Love this place.

Cassidy O.

0

24

0

6 years ago

Always tastes great! Never overpriced and definitely recommend coming here for easy and quick take out

David M.

20

27

0

14 years ago

Best service I've experienced from any Mexican restaurant!! AND THE FOOD IS GREAT! THANKS LUPITA!

JP C.

0

3

0

2 years ago

The best Mexican food ever, quick service and kind people. Looking forward to to going back

Catleen M.

3

12

2

11 years ago

Good food. Friendly service. Enchiladas were really big and fulfilling. Will come back. :)

H. P.

0

27

5

18 years ago

Awesome carne asada burrito. Friendly service, reasonably priced. I go there every week.

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Happy Taco - mexican - Updated July 2026

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We popped in here for Father's Day, and it was such a great experience! The restaurant looked…read moreincredibly festive, they decorated the spacious and pleasant atmosphere beautifully with multi color flags and balloons. The ordering setup is great: you order at the counter, get a number for your table, and the warm and welcoming staff brings everything out to you. Plus, the food came out quite fast! We ordered the fish and shrimp tacos, which came with generous, flavorful fillings. The burritos with fish were also fantastic, tostada was good too.but the absolute star of the show was the ceviche salad,it was easily the best and incredibly refreshing! We also loved checking out their great salsa bar. Most importantly, Dad was happy and absolutely loved it. We are so glad we stopped by and will happily return the next time we are in Half Moon Bay!

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Been going here for YEARS, never fails. A solid choice, we go for the burritos or the super…read morequesadillas. The service is always fantastic, very quick.

I had an INCREDIBLE fish burrito here. It was perfect for a beach picnic! The burrito was extremely…read morejuicy yet not super messy which we love! I also really liked the pickled onion and jalapeño on the side. Appreciated the chips and pico de gallo too. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Service was very fast.

Taqueria El Timon

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Hands Down the Best Molcajete! If you are looking for…read moreauthentic, flavor-packed Mexican food, look no further. We ordered a spread of dishes, and honestly, every single one was a hit. The stars of the show were definitely the Molcajetes. We tried both the Seafood Molcajete and the Carne Asada Molcajete, and they were incredible. The heat from the stone kept everything bubbling and delicious until the last bite--easily the best molcajete I've ever had. A few other highlights: * The Octopus: I have to give a special shoutout to the octopus. It was perfectly cooked and hands down the best I've ever tasted. * Grilled Chicken Plate: Even the more standard dishes are elevated here. The chicken was juicy, well-seasoned, and so good. * Love love love the chips and salsas. Love they have the Super spicy salsa. Everything was so gooooood and the quality of the ingredients really stands out. If you're craving a real feast, this is the spot!

Very clean place and very good service The food is ok…read more chips were old salsas were good

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Delicious! Great service, delicious food, and a dog friendly back patio. Thank you for a wonderful…read moreweekend lunch. I'll definitely be back!

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My family and I had a delicious meal Saturday. The food was…read moreincredibly fresh and absolutely delicious. My chicken burrito bowl yummy. All the food was excellent. We devoured the GF key lime pie. If you want delicious food, give this place a try you will be glad you did. Bon appétit

Such an interesting restaurant. So you can walk in to the front door and order from the bartender…read moreand then find a seat or go to the back patio and order from the bartender back there. I would suggest going to the patio. Because it's a very open concept place, there are flies literally everywhere but that's al fresco dining. The fish tacos were unfortunately very disappointing as was the burrito bowl. If you're looking for quick and filling this place is it but if you're looking for authentic then this is not it. The prices are a bit high as well. The chips and salsa were delicious and I bet the drinks are too. Would love to go back and just chill, have drinks and apps some time.

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Enjoyed our meal on the busy 4th of July. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Shoutout to our…read moreserver Jas who had great recommendations. She recommended the corn fritters, fresh cod tacos and chicken wings! We didn't have room for dessert but she mentioned the Oreo cheesecake was also delicious!

Went hiking with friends with friends and came here afterwards to celebrate a birthday. It was a…read morebeautiful day so we decided to sit outside. They have a nice selection of beers and bites. Three of us decided to share the fish tacos and fish and chips. The fish and chips were really good and it was a very large piece of cod. We chose grilled fish for the tacos, they looked beautiful, wish they had a little bit more taste. Are other friend ordered a hamburger and said it was okay. We all however agreed the fries were amazing and service was very friendly.

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