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    La Esmeralda

    4.1 (20 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican

    La Esmeralda Photos

    LA ESMERALDA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    the interior of a restaurant
    Nick A.

    While not necessarily the best Mexican food in Fresno, it gets major points as the only "sit down" restaurant in the area for miles (other than a Denny's on Jensen,) with the only others being miles north downtown, or miles south in Easton. The only other lunch options in the area would be the Alberto's on the corner of Elm and Jensen, and the numerous fast food chains on Jensen, as well as the aforementioned Denny's. While there are numerous taco trucks in the area as well (that YELP refuses to add on here despite me trying numerous times,) all are pretty limited in selection in comparison to the rather large menu here. That's not to say this place is only good because there's no where else to eat around here- it'd still be a solid 4 stars if it were located anywhere else (well, except North Fresno/Clovis, where it would jump back up to a 5) and since I've been eating here from day 1 since it opened, I've learned what to get and what's better at the taco trucks. Speaking of eating here from day 1, the first time I came in, they didn't have their debit card system set up yet, and it was cash only. I didn't know this when I ordered, and kinda embarrassingly told the cashier I only had 2 bucks in my wallet so I'd come back some other time. He told me that was fine and let me have my order anyway. THAT is customer service and how you get repeat customers- hope all you business owners that publicly (and privately) BLAST your customers take note. Anyway, as far as what to order... I'd stay away from tacos and burritos here, they're kinda boring and you can get them at any taco truck. My personal favorites are the sopes, huaraches, and (surprisingly) the quesadillas. I'm not a big beans and rice eater, so I stay away from the larger combination plates. Oh, I forgot to mention that the prices you see are the prices you pay- tax has already been figured into the price. Nothing cleaner than just handing over a $5 bill and walking away ;) Would I recommend you dropping whatever you're doing and coming way the fuck out here? No, probably not. It is however, literally the definition of 5 stars- "as good as it gets" around this part of town.

    3 tacos de adobada and Torta de asada

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

    so good my friend told me about this place and it was yum definitely go and order from here :)

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    7 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    8 years ago

    This place can use some help in the prep work. Food tasted good but nothing to write home to Mom about.

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    10 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Fresh, hot and homemade. Give this place a try. Excellent chicken burrito. Terrific service.

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    11 years ago

    Fresh food. They prepare it fresh, wtf more do you want? Don't want to spend all night in the john, come here.

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    10 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    La Mexicana Bakery & Taqueria - Carnitas and adobada tacos

    La Mexicana Bakery & Taqueria

    4.7(126 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $

    This place is officially bookmarked for every future drive through Fresno!…read more The lengua and chicharrón tacos were honestly some of the best I've ever had. I also sampled the carnitas on top of crispy taco shells as well. The meat was incredibly tender, juicy, and packed with flavor, and the tortillas came out hot, fresh, and perfectly cooked. Every bite reminded me why simple food done right is hard to beat. I was hoping to try the mojara frita, menudo, and barbacoa, only to find out the menudo and barbacoa are weekend only specialties. Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed, but it also gives me a great reason to come back. What really stood out, beyond the food, was the hospitality. David, who appears to have been running the place for over 20 years, was incredibly charismatic and provided the kind of customer service that seems harder and harder to find these days. You can tell he genuinely cares about both the restaurant and the people who walk through the door. One of my favorite parts of the visit was when I saw the owner come out and greet the regulars and customers. The interactions felt sincere and heartfelt, not forced. There was a real sense of community here, as if customers weren't just patrons but part of an extended family. That kind of atmosphere is special and says a lot about the people behind the business. Great food, warm hospitality, and a welcoming environment--I'll definitely be back, hopefully on a weekend next time.

    I don't think I've ever felt betrayed by Yelp reviews...until now…read more During a recent road trip we stopped here to picked up some lunch/dinner because tacos are quick and easy and their Yelp rating is high. Location/services: Upon entering the building I immediately noticed the heat. It was a hot 98 degree day and the restaurant felt like an oven and was maybe 3-5 degree cooler than it was outside. I then quickly noticed this was a very simple operation (almost like a food truck), and not much to the menu, but there were folks sitting and eating and a few others waiting to order, so I assumed the food must be great. We ordered 4 meals (tacos with rice/beans) which was meant to be eaten there but after waiting in line and feeling like we were in a hot box, we decided to make it to go. We sat and waited for our food (about 20 mins), we chatted and observed our surroundings and it became very apparent the restaurant was not maintained with basic cleaning because it was very grimy and just plain dirty. I then used the restroom and it was absolutely disgusting. Our ordered was called and the staff was very nice. The food: As I mentioned, we got 4 orders of tacos (all carne asada) with rice/beans, and we asked for salsa and limes. We got grilled jalapenos, lemons and one sandwhich baggy filled with red salsa. Not a big deal. The meat was fine but the tortillas were inedible. They were tough, flavorless, and greasy. The bean and rice were ok. We ate enough to curb our hunger but none of us finish our food. Upon my best judgement, I had convinced myself that the food was gonna be great because their Yelp rating told me so. I was so wrong! One last note, there was nothing here that resembled a bakery/panaderia. So if you think you could also grab a treat here, you are wrong.

    Photos
    La Mexicana Bakery & Taqueria - Attractive food photos above the open kitchen stove & grill.

    Attractive food photos above the open kitchen stove & grill.

    La Mexicana Bakery & Taqueria
    La Mexicana Bakery & Taqueria - Inside

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    Inside

    Miguel’s Salsa - Lisa's bbq available wed-Sunday

    Miguel’s Salsa

    4.5(184 reviews)
    10.3 mi
    Family-owned & operated
    Casual dining

    What a cute couple shop hidden inside back of a market. Look for Peacock. Walk all the way to the…read moreend and make a left to the back. Miguel sells his auntenthic mexican food and Lisa sells her favorite sweet treats. By far on the market, they sell pretty bomb salsa! It's not like the generic salsa from store bought one, it's just like the unique homemade family recipes. And trust me, these are not as supper vinegary. I love Miguel's salsa! Miguel's message was to serve his community and bring his tradition to the table. He brought the flavors of Michoacan and Jalisco Mexico which were passed down from the Segura family. SERVICE :: I love Miguel's service! He personally serves you and greet you there. He offered me free chips and salsa while i wait. They were quiet busy but get things done quickly too. RATE : 5/5 SALSAS & CHIPS - COMPLIMENTARY:: His salsas and chips were the best thing I've ever recieved. He serves his famous red and green salsa with a little bit of ground beef on top. They go so well together. RATE : 5/5 RED SALSA :: It's hard to describe it here but it's roasty burnt salsa full of flavors. Not too vinegary. You just got to try it in person. RATE : 5/5 GREEN SALSA :: I personally love the green sauce more, in general. And still Miguel's green salsa still beats the red salsa. I can taste all of the greens and fruit in it. It may be advertised mild but the heat is there. It's about almost the same spice level as the red salsa. RATE : 5/5 ASADA TACO ($3.49) :: Besides his salsa, his tacos were amazing too. It's well seasoned, unique, and full of flavor. The asada is something that I've never tasted before. It's very herby, well seasoned to taste, juicy and tender! RATE : 5/5 TACOS DORADOS ($4.49) :: The tacos dorados were something different from what I've had before and were absolutely delicious. This taco reminds me of birria. The texture and flavor were also amazing. I asked for pork, it was supper moist, tender and juicy full of flavors. The cotija cheese brings a nice dry and light cheesy taste to it. And lastly, those pickled jalapeno just give a pop of juicy, sour, and spicy flavor. RATE : 5/5 PISTACHIO CREAMES ICED MATCHA (16oz - 6.49) :: Lisa use Tenzo brand. I've used and tried Tenzo before and it's hard to ratio the matcha. Over portion Tenzo match will be too bitter and too little too diluted. And yes, Lisa's Matcha was on the diluted side. The pistachio flavoring is light and taste artificial. The sweetness level is perfectly sweetend. Not too sweet. RATE : 2/5 NOTE : Spend anything above $50, get a $5 dollar off voucher for the next purchase. OVERALL :: Overall, it's a hidden gem that's definitely worth checking out! Don't forget his salsas, he do sell them on the side. I'll definitely go back for more and try his other menu!

    Fantastic find while in town for a sports tournament!…read more My family and I were in town for a sports tournament, looked up highly-recommended Mexican spots on Yelp, and Miguel's popped up. When we arrived, we discovered it is actually located inside a Mexican market, which is always a great sign for authentic food! We ordered three super burritos, drinks, and an order of chips and guacamole. We dined inside their nicely renovated dining area while we waited. The food was absolutely fantastic--the super burritos were massive and made with high-quality ingredients, and the guacamole was phenomenal. The staff and cooks were incredibly nice, attentive, and welcoming. We left completely full and made sure to thank them for the superb food. We will definitely be back the next time we are in town for a tournament. Thank you to the staff for a job well done!

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    Miguel’s Salsa
    Miguel’s Salsa
    Miguel’s Salsa

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    La Esmeralda - mexican - Updated June 2026

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