I recently had the chance to travel to Carmel for a work trip. We didn't have much time, and lucky for us, Island Taco was close by. Our cashier/server was super helpful and friendly, they had Coke Zero (a definite plus in my book), and prices were reasonable. They have a ridiculously large selection of Jarritos... some flavors I've but seen before . I got a burrito with the chicken, and a fish taco. The burrito was... ok. The chicken had good flavor, the burrito was a good size, but the lettuce inside (I'm fine with lettuce in a burrito) coupled with the pico de gallo made the burrito a little soggy. Which is weird for a burrito. The flavor was good, but the resulting texture wasn't what I was expecting. So you might not want a burrito from here. There's a full salsa bar, although I didn't try any of them so I couldn't tell you if they're worth eating. On to something better: What you positively, absolutely DO want is the Baja style fish taco. One will suffice, it's ginormous and can split into two since you get two tortillas. Get it. Eat it. Love it. You can thank me later. Would I eat here again? Most definitely. Burrito? Maybe not, or maybe minus the lettuce and pico de gallo. read more

Island Taco - Baja style fish taco - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, California

great fish tacos and burritos, reasonable price. very happy we found this place while driving through town, would come back if we were in the area again. read more

Nice people and pretty cool spot. Of the things we ordered, chicken burrito, carne burrito and chicken quesadilla, everything was bland and burritos mostly just beans and rice, just not very good unfortunately. I love salsa and tried three of theirs, one was decent and the other two were tasteless. read more

I finally found a burrito on the Monterey Peninsula that delivers on flavor, quality of ingredients and overall value. Order at the counter and they bring it to your table. I had the chicken 'Fajita Burrito'. The tortilla is thinner than you might expect but it holds together well through the meal. The burrito was filled with a fair amount quality diced grilled chicken, fresh grilled onions, red bell peppers, black beans and rice. The flavor was unique and really unexpected for a place that on the surface looks like a common taqueria. I could not identify the overriding spice flavor so I asked the woman at the front counter what spice dominated the recipe. She told me it was a proprietary fajita mix and really did not know what went into it. Okay, I tried. It was large enough that I boxed up half and had it for dinner. My wife had a rice bowl with shredded beef. The beef was very good, authentic. Pricey at nearly $9., no disguising this fact. Four of the five salsas in the salsa bar were of top quality. The pico de gallo was the star. My wife's green tea concoction tasted soapy, something went wrong here and for this reason I'm knocking off a star. On another note the restaurant was being run by an all female crew. A counter person and two cooks. This is only noteworthy because I've never seen this in a Mexican food establishment. We will definitely place Island Taco on the lunch rotation. They got me with that fajita burrito recipe. read more

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Located in the shopping center off Hwy 1 in Carmel. Great place to grab an affordable bite before you head off to wherever you're going. My husband and I, wanted to try something before we drove another hour to Pheifer State Park to camp for the night. As we walked in, a swarm of about 10 young people got into line. We didn't understand that it's a place you order at the counter, we were trying to figure out the restaurant. Sadly we grabbed a menu and then realized we had to get back in line behind all those people...*sigh*. The cashier was fast and kept the line moving. We ordered the "Island Nachos" with tofu (extra $). It was perfect for two people to share. There is a small salsa bar. Oh! our food didn't take that long either, I'd say less than 10 minutes even with all the people in front of us. read more

Food is decent but definitely not authentic Mexican. The salsas seem like they're frozen since it all just sticks together which is disappointing. Nice if you need something in a rush, you can call ahead and have it picked up pretty quickly. Overall it's just ok but I wouldn't recommend if someone's looking for a good Mexican meal. read more

Maybe we were just super hungry after our visit to Bixby Canyon Bridge, but we found this place on our way back to our hotel and it was perfect. Super-friendly person behind the register, yummy Mexican food with a nice salsa bar that had some good variety. The best part? Grilled marinated tofu in their veggie burritos! Chips included. My only "complaint" -- if you can even call it that -- is that their sides were too expensive to consider adding on. $4 for a side of beans? $10 for chips and guac? Pass. Thankfully the burritos (and chips) filled us up. read more

This place wasn't that good kinda of a knock off mexican restaurant flour tortilla enchiladas were disgusting taste kinda tex mex Taco Bell is better then this place will never go back again read more

The server said the carnitas were great. When I got the bowl...it was swimming in that cupful of pink liquid in the picture. Also huge hunks of fat...and for some reason there was a full bay leaf in the bowl. So gross. Everything in the cups is what came out of the bowl. So not good. Order the shrimp and mahi. Avoid the carnitas...unless you're down for a treasure hunt. read more

Island Taco - Guh-Ross (everything in the two cups...is what came out of the bowl they served me). Nasty!! - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, California

We were attending a dog show in Carmel where the food was pretty grim, so I took everyone's order and headed over Island Taco to check it out. My initial reaction was "Holy crap....$80 for Mexican takeout for five people???", and then I realized why. To say Island Taco has large portions is like saying Chuck Norris is ok at karate. This place does not skimp when it comes to portion size. Sadly, we had to throw away a bunch of food because we were so full. The food....Island Taco is seriously tasty chow. Their Nachos and Taquitos are A+++++. My friend had the fish tacos and she ended up eating both of them and said she felt like she was going to pass out but couldn't stop eating them. Kids got steak quesadilla and burrito and both said they were awesome. LOOOVE the food. So, long story short, Island Taco has great food. Just remember, when you order at Island Taco, keep in mind they don't mess around with the portions so order accordingly. WE SHALL RETURN read more

Island Taco - Great food and lots of it! - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, California

Best fish taco! Good size portion and flavorful. Chicken tortilla soup was decent but not what I asked for. It was a very think and seasoned red sauce, not clear broth like I prefer. A lot of chicken, not enough veggies. read more

I've eaten at this place on and off the past 3 years. As other yelpers say - it's bland and overpriced. The carne asada is really gross and chewy - and everything just lacks flavor. I ordered a bean and cheese burrito once and it was $10. It's close to my office so I go here from time to time, but I don't think I will be back - I am always just disappointed. read more

Nice staff! Came here at 1pm on a Monday. The lady behind register greeted us with a smile and was efficient. Our orders came quickly and we sat outside and were comfortable. I got two hard tacos. 1 carnitas and 1 al pastor. Husband got 2 soft taco carnitas. All food was disappointing bland. The carnita tasted like it was boiled in plain water. Portion size was large and tacos were $5/apiece. We tried all the salsas and they weren't worth mentioning. Both the hard and soft tacos tasted stale and store bought. Some of the worse tacos we've had. Husband said he would rate the food one star. If we had to go back I think I'd try the quesadillas. It's hard to get those wrong. Toppings on taco were iceberg lettuce, tiny bit of cheddar, cubed tomatoes. read more

Got the carne asade quesadillas and it was delicious! Big portion and there are nice tables outside in the sun for outdoor dining. My partner got three soft tacos and it also looked quite nice. Usually my parents who work in the area get the fajita burrito and that's really tasty. Always super great service! read more

Island Taco - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, California

The server here was nice and there was ample outdoor seating. However, the food wasn't very good. The fish taco was rubbery, the chips were pale and had an unusual flavor, and there was a dead spider in our chip basket. The guacamole was okay. I would not return. read more

The Carne asada tacos were really good, and extremely affordable. They are very big, it comes with double tortilla. I made Two tacos out of one. Do not listen to bad reviews . The service was fast and professional by the girl. Not that much Mexican food around here. This is the best and great price . read more

I have to say service and good is awesome here. Super friendly and fast service. Our server was awesome, he asked us few times about food and if needed anything. He simply loved his job. You could tell! Food was delicious. read more

Mini taco combo was OK, the carnitas were too fatty but the shredded chicken was tasty. The fajita quesadilla was a little on the greasy side but overall a quiet and cozy place to spend time in the afternoon. read more

Island Taco - Mini taco combo + Fajita quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, California

Bland. Over priced; you just pay for a ton of cheap lettuce on your taco. Plus somehow they think it's fine to charge $5 for a side of chips?!? Who doesn't do free chips at a Mexican place. At least the staff was nice. p.s. the $11 nachos don't come with meat. It's extra. read more

Food wasn't all that good at all I got a shredded chicken burrito and it wasn't good at all not to sure what they cook the meat in or what kind of seasoning but the price wasn't worth the taste read more

Excellent California-style Mexican food. Pretty mild, but you can add heat from the sauce bar. Fresh and delicous! read more

OK at best. Service was great and friendly, but the food unfortunately didn't match up. Huge portions at a decent price, but the flavors were pretty bland. I got a Mahi taco and a chicken taco - Mahi was good, but a little too many toppings mask the fish... Chicken tasted like it was seasoned with Ortega taco seasining. $2.50 for guac on your food is a bit excessive, too. Unfortunately won't be coming back here. read more

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We have recently found this spot and and have been back twice. With choices limited during COVID-19 this one of the better places with outdoor dining and dog friendly seating area. So far we have enjoyed the enchiladas, quesadillas, and most recently the burritos-- all were very good for the price. read more

Yes, I agree with a three star rating. Food is just OK. Grilled chicken was kind of dry. Salsa bar was good but you have to pay extra for chips. read more

had carnitas burrito here today with a coke. totaled ~$18. what happened to this place? absolutely no flavor to the food. tortilla was a sticky wet mess. yuck. ate about 4 bites then "no more". prices are $3-$4 too high for every meal in this place. management/cook needs to compare their poor food to other mexican food places in the area. changes needed. won't be going here again for lunch. I CANNOT RECOMMEND TO ANY OF MY FRIENDS OR FAMILY. too bad... read more

I ordered a carne asada burrito and I felt like I was eating a vegetarian burrito. It was filled with lettuce mostly. There was hardly any steak in it. The salsa is good. The young man working the counter is friendly and courteous. If I come here again I definitely won't order a carne asada burrito. read more

It's not good. Even if you're really really hungry, it's a skip. A wet paper towel has more flavor and is less expensive.

I ordered the taco trio and they had absolutely no flavor except from the hot sauce I put on them. Next tried the black beans but they had an "out of the can" blandness to them. Management, try letting the meats marinade in lime/Mexican spices and onion for a while longer. They food was dry and tasteless! I would not recommend but I have to say the service was great! read more

Standard fast food Mexican fare. Nothing special. They served 2 tacos placed on top of each other which I thought was rather stupid. And their rice bowl leaves no choice to eat without spilling on the table and look like a slob. Too much lettuce too. read more

Island Taco - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, California

Check your battered tacos! Had to take back my tacos after we got air filled "fish tacos". Cheaper way....with air and bread with oil than to give us the fish. So disappointed and whats worse i said what can you do? Since i had to drive back she said i can make you two new ones it doesnt take long. Pssshz wonderful customer service. read more

Road our bikes to this little hidden taco place and they do have outdoor seating (metal patio tables)which is nice if you need to watch your bikes. It's very casual. The ingredients were fresh and their burritos and tacos were filled with fresh lettuce, but expect Carmel prices. The service is mediocre and although friendly it seems ridiculous to spend 21. plus tip on two sodas and a burrito and this small fish taco. It was tasty but not a good value if on a budget. read more

Island Taco - Mahi mahi taco - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, California

We really wanted to like this place. Maybe they had an off day. The chips we're terrible and not salted at all. Our tacos when we arrived home all fell apart probably due to the heat of the container. It just looked like a pile of meat and lettuce. The carne asada was not seasoned with even salt. Tasteless. The guacamole was okay. They didn't even include some salsa.. I don't know what ethnicity they are trying to convey but there was nothing special about this food. I would have preferred Pollo loco by far. I see that some others mentioned that the food was pretty unseasoned also. This is something that can be easily remedied. They might want to have a meeting and do some test food tastings. We would definitely give it another chance. read more

I ordered the Beef and Chicken tacos with a side of rice and beans. For $9.99 it wasn't great but edible. The beans and rice were lovely but I cannot say the same for the dry chicken meat and carne asada which was also a bit dry. Ya they were big portion tacos but definitely Americanized tacos and the salsa bar was a blast but a couple of them (red ones) were more bitter than spicy. I can see young adults and children enjoying this type of cuisine and Island Taco is such a good name but there was nothing island about them. No mango salsa or pinepple puree toppings just the decor and Kona Brewing Co.'s longboard beer. read more

Island Taco - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, California

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I was expecting to hate my burrito.. the place just seemed weak, but it's slim pickins in this area for food and we don't know the area at all. We're not from these parts ya hear? The guy running the register had permanent mean face on and seemed irritated with everyone for simply ordering. They got my boyfriend's order wrong.. but we left and just went with it, because "Mr. friendly" at the register was not fun to deal with. I was eyeballing the burger place as we left and wishing we had gone there instead. Shockingly, when we got to our room and dove in, the food was pretty good. Not bad.. but definitely over priced for a simple burrito with simple ingredients..it's not authentic or gourmet, I'd still rather have a burger over this but, it hit the spot for the moment. read more

Food was wonderful as always, but only one server on a Sunday, date was 7~29~18, who ever owns or runs the place needs to step up and help out..... need 2 people serving......the poor young lady was alone and the place was packed but she stayed focused and smiled through it all, she gets 5 stars!!!!! she was the best ..... read more

Over in the Crossroads for an errand during my lunch hour, I stopped by RG Burgers to grab a bite before heading back to the office. Sadly, RG Burgers was closed for remodeling, with a sign directing would-be patrons over to Island Taco next door. Both restaurants are owned by the same people, and Island Taco was serving the RG Burgers menu from their kitchen during the remodel. Considering I'd never been to Island Taco, I took this as a sign to try something new and ordered off Island Taco's menu instead of getting my usual RG turkey/Jack burger. Alas, Island Taco was a major disappointment, serving up some of the worst "Mexican" food I've ever had. I got some chips and salsa--the chips were way too dry and under salted, and the salsa had little flavor and next to no kick. I wanted something simple for lunch, so I ordered a chicken quesadilla. When it arrived, it was missing a key ingredient: chicken. Our server apologized and brought me a new quesadilla, with chicken, without any hesitation. I'm a little puzzled whether I actually got a fresh quesadilla or if they simply pulled the plain one apart and added in the chicken--the chicken and cheese were clearly in two different layers. Perhaps this is how they make their chicken quesadillas, but if so, it's an amateur mistake: one must mix cheese and chicken for a truly delicious chicken quesadilla. Now quite hungry, I get ready to devour my quesadilla, only to discover it really lacked any flavor--the chicken tasted like those precooked strips you can buy at the supermarket, not fresh, grilled chicken I was expecting; the cheese tasted like the pre-shredded cheese-in-a-bag. If that's what I'd wanted for lunch, I would have stopped at Safeway and picked up ingredients to nuke myself a quesadilla back at the office--it probably would have tasted better and been a lot cheaper. I wound up leaving most of it behind, leaving Island Taco grossly unsatisfied. (Luckily, froyo would rectify my woeful lunch!) Really the food at Island Taco is just flavorless and bland. Learn from my misfortune fellow Yelpers--if you find yourself looking for lunch in the Crossroads, stick with the tried-and-true menu at RG Burgers. read more

I love this little place! It's a great place to go and chill after work and have some great food. The last time I was there it was pretty quiet and I loved that! The food is excellent. The guacamole is amazing!!!!! I'll totally be going back to Island Taco. The staff are pretty cool too, always friendly and very helpful. read more

The biggest complaint is how they price their food and don't have a current menu online, not even on their website My wife picked up an order last evening and showed me the receipt today. Her items were more, especially the burrito; which was about 45% more than the online menu price. By not informing patrons the true price of the food; they are bordering on deception. The food wasn't even that good. This restaurant won't be our first choice in the future. read more

Excellent guacamole and grilled mahi mahi fish tacos. Pricey, but delish! Also very much enjoy the mahi salad. The fish is super fresh in all the tacos/salads and the portions are really sizable. It's Carmel, what can you do...everything costs more here. We eat here at least once a week. Fast, friendly and good! read more

Good food. Healthy. Good service. Decent but not really large portions.