Jack in the Box

El Molino Central had been on our radar for a while, hyped by friends as "worth the drive" -- the…read morehighest possible endorsement in the Bay Area, where we'll travel thirty minutes for a decent taco. So we finally did it. We planned our entire day around a meal. No spontaneity. Just commitment, a full tank of gas, and moderately managed expectations. The verdict? The food is genuinely tasty, the service is warm and friendly, and the outdoor seating is generous enough that you don't feel like you're eating on top of strangers. All good things. Now, about the bathroom situation. To reach it, you must walk through the kitchen. Yes, the kitchen. The actual working kitchen, where people are actively cooking your food. It feels a little like being a contestant on a show you didn't audition for -- part awkward intruder, part curious food tourist. On the upside, you get a front-row peek at how everything is made, which is either charming or anxiety-inducing depending on how much you like to know about your food before it arrives. We chose charming. Was it worth the drive? Yeah, it was.

What an exceptional discovery for authentic Mexican cuisine. This unassuming roadside restaurant,…read moreoffering dining exclusively outdoors, delivers the kind of culinary experience that reminds you why some of the best food is often found in the most unexpected places. The dining concept is refreshingly casual yet incredibly efficient. Guests place their order at the counter before making their way to the outdoor picnic seating area tucked behind the restaurant. The staff then delivers the food directly to the table, creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere that perfectly complements the rustic roadside setting. The menu itself is intentionally concise, which immediately signals a kitchen focused more on execution and quality than excess. It also appeared to feature a rotating seasonal selection, and with the beginning of summer came a fresh seasonal menu showcasing vibrant and authentic flavors of summer. We decided on the beef tacos, and they were truly outstanding. I wish I could remember what type of beef they were. The plate arrived simply presented with three street-style tacos accompanied by fresh lime wedges and crisp radish slices. While minimal in appearance, the flavors were anything but simple. The corn tortillas were among the best I have experienced, lightly crisped, with a delicate texture and subtle depth of flavor that elevated the entire dish. The beef was exceptionally tender, moist, and perfectly seasoned without overpowering the natural richness of the meat. Finished with diced white onions, fresh cilantro, and a vibrant green salsa, every component felt thoughtfully balanced. With a squeeze of lime over the top, the first bite delivered that rare and memorable reaction every food enthusiast hopes for, an immediate "wow" moment. What makes this restaurant particularly impressive is its authenticity and restraint. Rather than trying to do everything, it focuses on doing a select number of dishes extraordinarily well. That dedication to quality is clearly reflected in the numerous accolades displayed throughout the property, including multiple years of Michelin recognition. Who would expect that one of the most memorable Mexican dining experiences in the region would be found at a humble roadside establishment in Sonoma? For anyone visiting the area, this restaurant is an absolute must-visit destination. I look forward to returning soon to further explore the menu and experience more of what this remarkable culinary gem has to offer.

Soft serve

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Soft serve

Costa’s Tacos

4.7(23 reviews)

0.5 mi

Enjoyed both regular tacos and quesabirria tacos from their truck at a volleyball tournament in…read moreSonoma. High-quality, fresh ingredients, and tasty. The tortillas were a bit greasy, but the al pastor, carne asada, and birria meat were well-seasoned and tender. Dipping broth for the quesabirria tacos was excellent. Salsas were pretty good too but wish they provided larger quantity without having to ask for more. Truck prices were on the higher side than other brick and mortar places, but still decent value, and it hit the spot.

Costa's Tacos has the best tacos in Northern California…read more The green salsa is the best around and the tacos seriously are the best I have had in Northern California since I moved here 9 years ago. I wish they had a store front, I chase down this food truck down so much I might as well rent space in the back of it!! The ingredients are fresh and delicious- I have literally never had a bad experience here. It's 10/10 every time!!!

Al pastor taco and quesabirria (with side of potatoes, onions, and jalapeños included!)

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Al pastor and carne asada tacos with cilantro and onions

Sonoma Eats

4.5(244 reviews)

1.5 mi

Food was amazing! The place is so nice inside they even have a nice patio area but for sure coming…read moreback to try other plates! Chicken sandwich was so good and staff are so nice!

Unsure what's going on but place was closed this morning and hours signage pulled from door. No…read moreother info. Bummer if it's shutting down. Great place!!

The truck

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Mole enchiladas

El Coyote

4.2(145 reviews)

0.9 mi

We ate at El Coyote in Sonoma and absolutely loved it! We ordered the Al Pastor quesadilla and the…read moreCarne Asada burrito, and both were incredible. The tortillas had that perfect toasted outside, and the fresh little pieces of tomato added such a bright, delicious flavor. Everything tasted so fresh and well-made. We'll definitely be coming back again!

These tacos were amazing and the sauce on top was so good! Quick service great price. Will…read moredefinitely be back!

Carnitas tacos

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Mothers Tacos

4.3(587 reviews)

9.5 mi

We ordered 3 different types of tacos. All were excellent…read moreService was spot on Ambiance is all good with California sunshine feeling great to these Seattlites. Highly recommend

2026 napa. taqueria…read more mulita - al pastor fresh pineapple, x-onion, cilantro (make it spicy-add macha grilled tortilla +0.25) mulita - suadero braised rose meat (beef), x-onion, cilantro substitute tortilla for crispy cheese shell mulita - chicharrón crispy pork belly, x-pico de gallo, fresh avocado substitute tortilla for crispy cheese shell overall, still probably the best bay area tacos. "as good as it gets."

Interior

Pescado taco and mushroom mulitas con queso.

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Water melon Fresca

El Brinquito Market & Meat Market

4.7(46 reviews)

2.0 mi

Every time I get up to Sonoma I find myself rendering an opinion on whether I could live there. On…read morea recent drive through I concluded that I could not or maybe that I could but didn't want to. Later that afternoon I found myself at El Brinquito and that all changed. Owing to the population, Sonoma has what us Marin-ites can only describe as a plethora of Mexican food riches. As for me, from here on out I need only one. This one. El Brinquito is a market and a meat market and a provider of what I can only describe as some of the best steak (super) tacos I've ever consumed. How good, you ask? After the first visit I was back again inside of the week for the exact same thing. On the weekends they barbecue chicken which, from the way the girl at the register said it, I garnered the impression that it was something worth trying. Maybe, but I'll have to get it to go. From here on out, I won't be passing through this area without a stop for Carne Asada Super Tacos (under $5 apiece).

Best chicken in Sonoma! Wed Fri Sat and Sun. Also they are one of the only places that carry…read morechampurrado. I often get it in the mornings.

The BEST!: Carne Asada Super Tacos (under $5 apiece)

Great smoked meats

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Best tacos of my life!

Los Molcajetes Bar & Grill

4.3(117 reviews)

0.6 mi

Jacquline was great Food was yummy…read moreSalsas fantastic I would go back Only think I would say is better cleaning of seats after previous party

Todas las mujeres Que trabajan muy com su carota y muy mal servico te miran como si te Estan…read morehaciendo un favor!! Como mesera respeten o si no busquen otro trabajo Nadien las tiene afuerzas y mas las 2 meseras Que saturation hoy DOMINGO 12 alas 12PM cambien de meseras y tendrian MAs exito. La comida muy buena y todo muy limpo. Don't go if you don't like ugly service the food is good but some women helping act like you owe them something or you're bothering them.

Chilaquiles

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Steak & Eggs

Taqueria El Gran Taco

3.5(63 reviews)

1.4 mi

Took a chance using DoorDash to grab morning burritos from El Gran Taco, and overall, we were…read morepretty pleased and would give them a 3.5 mainly for the shrimp issue described below. We got super carne asada burritos that were large and included a generous amount of tender, seasoned carne asada, along with fresh fixings that were all encased within a good quality tortilla that was further grilled on a flattop to give it additional texture which was excellent. The shrimp super burrito was also good, with well-cooked shrimp but there was a mistake of leaving the shell on some of the shrimp, which was an unexpected and unwelcome surprise. We also grabbed some excellent chunky guacamole and fresh tortilla chips, and enjoyed their mild green and hot red salsas, with the latter having a good burn to it and going perfectly with chilled bottled Mexican Cokes.

Just had a super wet lengua burrito from this joint, the meat was fall apart goodness, these dudes…read moreknow how to get it done. Enormous portions, check out the picture. Their salsas are spicy just like they should be, chips are very fresh. Great price point too.

Burrito assada wet

Chicken enchiladas

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Yum central

El Gitano

4.4(14 reviews)

1.9 mi

Love this place Workers are amazing friendly…read moreFood is a 10 Food comes out fast You can't find Mexican food like this

Found this place from a friend. Good food friendly people. Price is very fair. They only take cash…read more Just fyi

Carne asada y la pastor

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La Hacienda Sonoma Bar and Grill

3.9(422 reviews)

1.7 mi

We love this little place! Sister and I have met here a couple times and it's always relatively…read morebusy. Food is very fresh and tasty. This visit I had the tacos salad which had heaps of asada in it. Sister had shrimp quesadillas which looked super hearty as well. Last visit I got the quesobirria and that too was a stand out dish. The vibe inside is super colorful and authentic and there is a huge outside area to eat as well. No pictures this trip because I forgot my phone in the car!!

To celebrate my new Elite badge my husband and I went to a place that I had driven past for 12…read moreyears, when I had the pleasure of working in Sonoma Valley as a teacher. Sonoma has several parts of town. This La Hacienda is located in Boyes Springs. When I asked my students where their families went out to eat they told me about La Hacienda. They said the food was good, and the portions were big. Well I'm here to tell you they were right. They have very good margaritas. My husband ordered top shelf and I had a sip. It was delicious. The music and the decor make La Hacienda Sonoma full of life and good food.