Taco Mama - Gardendale

(27 reviews)

3.1 mi

Ho there! Enjoy mexican home cooking. This is the Mexican food we've been searching for in…read moreAlabama! A place that hasn't broken to Alabama culture but remains true to the area they represent. We had shredded beef enchiladas and shredded beef tacos amazing. We also had carnitas and it was perfectly prepared and large enough for leftovers the next day. We ordered more beans and rice for that reason! Tastes like my childhood in San Diego good job guys!

Since I've lived in the Gardendale area this place has had 3-4 different names. The previous…read moreplaces all seemed to miss the mark in one way or another, food, cleanliness, decor. Who ever owns the place now has their stuff together. I've been there several times over the last few months every time I really enjoyed the meal. Place is tasteful decorated in a festive Mexican theme, service was fast and efficient. Server was very friendly and accommodating. Food was very good. I had the lunch fijatis, if I had any issue it would have been you only get 2 tortillas with the meal, I'm positive I could have ask for more. Also had one of the top shelf margaritas, would have had another except I was alone, so no one to drive. Really good margarita. This place is by far the BEST Mexican Restaurant in the Gardendale Fultondale area. All the others could close and not be missed.

Molcajete!

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Menu

Casa Fiesta Fultondale

Gets the soup! A great scrumptious filling vibrant soup,…read morethe likes of which u will not c at any other Mexi pad in N.AL. Tons o veggies, herbs, chx, .. it a complete meal. Menu loaded with all your Mexi specialties, quesadillas, flautas.. .. .. etc. etc. Waitstaff kind and friendly; Gots checked on multiple times by multiple folks, hard-workin Fultondale restauranteurs. Convenient lil place. Ask for their killer max spice salsa; mind-bending, no joke. Warning- they would not reveal the peppers used. :)

we had a great experience at Casa Fiesta. there were 5 adults and a baby and our dishes were good…read more the guacamole was not my favorite - it was a little smoother than i'd like (i like a fresh chunky guac with tomatoes and onions) and it definitely was made some time before we got it. i got the burrito majorda (i think?) and it was well done. the flavors were right and i enjoyed it. husband got chile rellenos and was very pleased with how they came out. the fajita nachos were flavored well however the chips were thin and the fajita meat was cut thick so harder to eat. our server was very attentive and made sure our drinks were full and our meals were to our liking. the environment was your standard americanized mexican. they had big booths and tables and there was room to move in the aisles. overall we enjoyed our meals and had a nice evening out. we would return!!

Street Tacos - This comes with 4 tacos.(your choice of meat) I added a side of rice with mine...Don't judge me!

Outside

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Taqueria Garnachitas

4.8

(17 reviews)

0.5 mi

We stopped by this food truck to pick up some queso birria tacos. Birmingham Yelpers rate this…read morebusiness 4.9 so we decided to give it a try. We placed our order and were given a pager to let us know when our order would be ready. We ordered queso birria tacos, chips and salsa and a chicken burrito. The quesa Birria tacos were good. Not great but good. There was a decent amount of beef but the tacos were not overly stuffed. The consommé or soup was a little oily but not bad. 4/5 The chicken burrito was very good. It had a good amount of meat and was seasoned well. 5/5 The chips and salsa were a disappointment. The chips were great. The salsa had way too much sugar. I ate two bites and stopped due to the high sugar content. I thought I had pics of the chips and salsa but I don't. 3/5 Overall my experience was good. I prefer Catrinas. 4/5

The food was absolutely incredible! I had covered tamales and carnitas tacos. Everything tasted…read morefresh and the staff was incredibly kind. I would definitely go back!

Quesa birria tacos

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Los Arcos

4.2

(19 reviews)

0.7 mi

The service was pretty good and the place was decorated nice. The bell peppers were a little big…read morefor my liking and seemed to be covering up there not being much rice. The food is usually way better though when I get it, this time it was a little too peppery for my liking. But still good

Food was good. Service- fast and friendly. Cool atmosphere! Good lunch and daily specialsread more

Fajita Quesadilla with pico de gallo and Queso dip/chips

Molcajete

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Fajita taco salads with grilled seasoned jalapeños. Chips and salsa

Baja California Cantina and Grill

OMG! Where is Baja California?! This is a fraud. I ordered my Mexican chicken soup for this cold I…read moregot. Yuck!!!! What happened? It's full of rice, no avocado, no noodle, no corn, a little broth. What's going on here? I mean we love this place and this food. I got cheese dip, and I must say, cheese dip still good. Chips old and crumbled. SMH. Come back Baja! We see you changed your name. I need my soup.

A huge shout out to Baja California in Gardendale for accommodating all of us at SilverSneakers…read morewith Misty at 24E Health Clubs in Gardendale with no problems. Not many places can do that, plus the food was great. Gabriel was our waiter and he was absolutely amazing. He brought out six plates of hot food at a time, across one arm! He didn't drop anything. He kept all of the tickets separate, knew who ordered what, asked if we needed anything, and helped me with plates and silverware for the cake. Thanks again, we had an amazing day!

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Taqueria Tafoya

5.0

(6 reviews)

5.4 mi

Taqueria Tafoya is a great Mexican restaurant in a rather nondescript shopping plaza. Walking up on…read morethe outside, I would never guess that it was a lit bigger inside and while still kind of a no-frills type place, it was clean and spacious. The service was incredibly friendly and I definitely applaud my server. I went with two tacos and a gordita. The food was brought out pretty quickly and I have to say that I was definitely impressed. The prices were very good, but be advised that they charge a surcharge if you use a credit card. I would definitely recommend here and I will be back.

Best tacos! Best service!!! I tried the tamales recently for the first time & they were…read moredelicious!!! I'm always down for some Taqueria Tafoya. They are the BEST!!!

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Outside

Maravilla’s Mexican Grill

(18 reviews)

7.6 mi

Cute, small, local spot! Check for live music on Friday nights. Standard happy hour margaritas…read more Seated to chips and salsa (cilantro forward). I got the Vaca Loco. The steak was seasoned well and extremely tender. Rice was fresh and refried beans were definitely prepared with lard (delicious)! Quick and friendly service. Good prices both for lunch and dinner

I enjoyed my visit to Maravilla's Mexican Grill. There used to be another restaurant in this spot…read moreand I wasn't a huge fan. So, I was really excited when Maravilla's opened. I met my uncle here for a quick lunch and some drinks. Everything was superb! The customer service was stellar and we got our food quickly. There was plenty of parking and the drinks were also very good! I had a steak quesadilla. It was so big and there was plenty of meat packed in. The rice and beans were also great! I had a frozen margarita. I had the lighter version of it. Let me just say that they are not skimpy on the food or the drinks. I'm glad that I got the lighter version of the drink, as it was just right and the alcohol portion was perfect! The portion size of both the food and drinks were great. The server was also wonderful and our food came out very quickly. They also give you salsa and chips. The salsa was very good! I plan to try their queso dip the next time. I completely enjoyed my visit and I plan to go back very soon!

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Casa Fiesta Mexican Grill

This was my first time at this location. The service was amazing didn't have to wait long at all…read morefor anything I ordered. I had wings and fries based on a recommendation. They weren't bad I oils have enjoyed them more if they were crispy. It had a nice sauce not hot with a hint of sweetness. The fries were very tasty.

This was our first time dining at Casa Fiesta, and unfortunately, it was a very disappointing…read moreexperience. I ordered the prime rib, and it was immediately obvious that something was wrong. The meat had a strong, unpleasant odor and tasted old and spoiled. I couldn't continue eating it because I was genuinely concerned it could make someone sick. To the restaurant's credit, the staff did replace my meal with the carne asada, which was much better, and I appreciate that they tried to make it right. However, serving meat that smelled and tasted spoiled should never happen in the first place. Food quality and safety should always be the highest priority. I hope management takes this seriously and reviews their food storage and quality control procedures. Based on this experience, I'm hesitant to return.

Hot sauce

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Chips and salsa

El Vecino Mexican Restaurant

I love this restaurant. They are always such a great treat. I went for a quick lunch with my sister…read morehere and we were seated immediately. They have great lunch specials and are very reasonably priced. There is always ample parking, but they can get pretty busy after 12. I have tried a few things from the menu, but I love their enchiladas. I'd highly recommend this place, as the food is awesome.

Another great experience! Food was delicious and loads of it. Our waitress E was fantastic! Still…read morewould love a happy hour but the pitcher of Margaritas is well worth it *chefs kiss*

Combination T: Taco, Enchilada, Tamale & Quesadilla

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Dos Botellas

4.4

(19 reviews)

10.5 mi

Super nice staff, got a taco salad beef jo beans at supper came out fast. Seems to to know their…read moreregulars very well. Inside is nothing special but food is good.

OMG I came here for a quick bite and drink. I ordered the steak fajita taco salad which was not…read moregood. It was tooo juicy /watery. In others' review I saw a fajita salad that looked amazing so that's what I thought I was ordering, it was not! I was highly disappointed. I had cheese dip that was lukewarm. I requested a small frozen margarita with no salt. The sever brings it out with salt anyways! Ugh. I wiped the salt off. He offered to exchange it but I didn't bother. I generally like Dos Botellas but this visit was successfully unsatisfactory!

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The Filling Station

3.7

(15 reviews)

0.2 mi

A coworker and I came by on a Friday for lunch around 11:30. It was busy, but we were able to be…read moreseated immediately. The tables are really crammed close together so it felt as if I had to crawl over the guests next to us just to sit down. I assume our waitress was new because she seemed a bit frazzled when we were ordering. We also never saw her again until after our food was delivered and then again for the check. As I mentioned, they were busy, but not packed. By the time we were done with our meal the place had thinned out quite a bit. We ordered a pizza to share and petite salads. The pizza was delicious! And I loved the Greek salad. I think they may have a few growing pains to work out in the service experience, but the food was great. I'd love to try more of their dishes.

The service was great and I have no complaints there. Our server was polite and attentive. The…read morelocation was also very clean and well organized. The food was where I felt they lacked the most. The Muffuletta I had was hardly toasted, dreadfully bland, and drowned in olive oil. The meatballs were also just that, meatballs with a generic marinara sauce added to them. The pasta salad seemed to be just store bought pasta salad with shredded cheese sprinkled over it. I had some of my partner's pizza just to try it out and was very pleased with it and regretted my decision in getting a sandwich instead of just a pizza. The pizza slices are large and have a great crust. We ended our meal with a chocolate bread pudding which was warm, rich, and delicious. While most of the food was passable, it was outrageously overpriced for the quality of the dishes we got. If you decide to eat here, I would highly recommend sticking to the pizza and maybe a dessert because you will end up overpaying for simply "okay" food.

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Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe - Gardendale

Shameka was so helpful and sweet at the register. She definitely got me right. I love Taziki's and…read moremiss being close to one. I ordered my favorite, their Friday special and decided to try the salmon on the side with a some tomato chutney. It was tens across the board! The restaurant was nice clean and a little busy but each employee was attentive and welcoming. I always look forward to Taziki's when I come home! See you again soon!

What's a surprise this place was. I love Mediterranean food and these people are making it hot and…read morefresh. Sharing a building with the great Taco Mama, this clean and easy parking option is a relief. Then to see such fresh flavors and open menu, leaves a lot to discover. For my first trip I got the hummus and soft pita, to go with the chicken kabobs feast with salad, veggies, and rice. Sorry no pictures this time...but the others here do it justice. Great food, fair price, and the service is old school good! Can't wait to go back.

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Our Place

Everything I've tried is good. Breakfast and lunch. Service is quick…read more Try to arrive early; it gets pretty crowded at lunch

We ordered for lunch and all of our food was so good! We will def order again for our officeread more

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake

Strawberry Pretzel Pie

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Toffee Caramel Cheesecake

Hamburger Heaven

Food first, thoughts after... Went today for breakfast. SO…read more GOOD. they have the best pancakes I have ever had. It's naturally sweet so no need for syrup. Everything is always fresh and so good. Dreaming of my next hamburger heaven trip!

I've been wanting an eggnog shake and I saw the sign outside stating that it was now available. I…read morewent through the drive thru and was quickly greeted and I placed my order. The shake was thick and so good that I might return very soon to try other items.

Inside inspirational wall decor

Fries

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Inside dining

Pasquale's Pizza & Pasta

I have ordered twice at this location and been disappointed in the food quality overall…read more The garlic bread is probably the best thing here, bread is soft, warm, and buttery. I have had the pizza years ago when they had a location in Hoover and it was the best. Supposedly the owner in Gardendale is the same one that was at Hoover previously. This pizza is the complete opposite, with a store bought bread base that's partial cooked. The toppings didn't help to improve the flavor or texture, I had a pepperoni pizza. This time I tried the roast beef sandwich and my boyfriend had the hoagie. The roast beef and gravy tasted like it was in a can and reminded me of Dinty Moore beef stew, very salty and thick gravy. The hoagie had three meats, maybe provolone cheese, and pizza sauce that was light. The meats were lukewarm and dripping clear liquid while eating the sandwich. Again the bread was about the only good part of these sandwiches as it's the same used for the garlic bread. I wish they would work on improving their food offerings, and bring back the good quality they used to have for pizzas. I'm not sure if I will return here unless it's just for garlic bread which seems a waste since Gardendale is out of the way for me. I'm disappointed eating here now.

I've had pizza at different establishments across the country, and this may be the worst I've ever…read morehad. Ordered a calzone and it was an absolute mess without much taste. It was served on a paper plate, so that only added to my disappointment. The restaurant itself is dirty and dingy. Most tables were dirty, the light fixtures over the table and walls were covered is food spatter, and the seats were equally gross. You walk in, order, then they bark out your number. The lady behind the counter was kind, but seemed put out. The cook.... Let's just say he left an unfavorable memory. I'm not sure what other reviewers see in this place, but if I lived here, it would be at the bottom of my list.

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Taqueria Garnachitas

4.8

(17 reviews)

0.5 mi

We stopped by this food truck to pick up some queso birria tacos. Birmingham Yelpers rate this…read morebusiness 4.9 so we decided to give it a try. We placed our order and were given a pager to let us know when our order would be ready. We ordered queso birria tacos, chips and salsa and a chicken burrito. The quesa Birria tacos were good. Not great but good. There was a decent amount of beef but the tacos were not overly stuffed. The consommé or soup was a little oily but not bad. 4/5 The chicken burrito was very good. It had a good amount of meat and was seasoned well. 5/5 The chips and salsa were a disappointment. The chips were great. The salsa had way too much sugar. I ate two bites and stopped due to the high sugar content. I thought I had pics of the chips and salsa but I don't. 3/5 Overall my experience was good. I prefer Catrinas. 4/5

The food was absolutely incredible! I had covered tamales and carnitas tacos. Everything tasted…read morefresh and the staff was incredibly kind. I would definitely go back!

Quesa birria tacos

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Taco Mama - Gardendale - mexican - Updated July 2026

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Taco Mama - Hwy 119

3.9

(68 reviews)

Fast service, very clean, and super nice staff! My boyfriend and I split the nachos because they…read moreare literally a MOUND of food! This is our go-to share meal at Taco mama! We love the ground beef nachos with queso, refried beans, cilantro, corn, olives, lettuce and pico! I haven't been to this location before, but it was the best for parking and service!

Great outdoor seating and ample indoor. Fast friendly…read moreservice. Two beef hard shell tacos, came with chips, salsa and one side of your choice (quac) was my choice. The beef was better than most places. Salsa was good. Chips could use some salt and the guacamole was good. I just wish more places served tacos on a hard fried flat round corn tortilla. Much easier to eat while getting a bite of all the toppings. Open faced taco. Over all the meal was good, I'll give them another visit, trying other offerings.

Los Arcos

4.2

(19 reviews)

The service was pretty good and the place was decorated nice. The bell peppers were a little big…read morefor my liking and seemed to be covering up there not being much rice. The food is usually way better though when I get it, this time it was a little too peppery for my liking. But still good

Food was good. Service- fast and friendly. Cool atmosphere! Good lunch and daily specialsread more

LEON La Taberna Mexican Tavern

3.6

(89 reviews)

Classic Mexican food spot. Done well here! Service is great, very quick, efficient. The menu is a…read moregood length, it all fits on one sheet of paper, I don't need el libro. The chips came out piping hot and the salsa had a great chipotle/mole flavor. The Mexican umami. My dad and I came on a Wednesday night for a quick dinner. I got the pork tamales, which were good, some of the better tamales I've had in Birmingham. But once you've had a freshly steamed, tender tamal, it's hard to go back. Margaritas are yummy here. Atmosphere is good, lots of TVs for sports, dimly lit, fun lights. Leon is definitely a Liberty Park/Overton/Cahaba Heights go-to, Extremely convenient location, easy parking, no reservations needed kind of place.

Whew, y'all. I hate to be ugly about a little neighborhood restaurant, but this food was terrible…read more How does this place survive? I took my kids for dinner on a Saturday night. It's not a large restaurant, and there weren't a lot of people there. We ordered both queso and guacamole to go with our chips and salsa. The queso and salsa were entirely forgettable, but that guacamole will live in my nightmares. It was whipped avocado. I'm not even sure it was avocado. It was like green mousse, and the only thing it tasted like was the color green. Imagine turning grass into cool whip and you get the idea. It was horrifying. Our dinners were also terrible. I ordered the enchiladas suizas, which was advertised as coming with a sour cream/chili sauce (which is how the dish is made), but what I got were plain chicken enchiladas with queso drenched over. My daughter ordered the beef tacos. They were the worst tacos we've ever had. The beef was ground so finely that it was mushy- like baby food- and the only flavor at all was beef fat. It was like the meat was stewed for hours in its own fat. Awful. The tamales and a quesadilla rounded out the rest of our dinner order, but they aren't even worth the time to review. There are so many better options in Birmingham.

Los Rancheros Mexican Grill

(23 reviews)

•$

We eat here frequently. This is a great place to bring your family. Even on their busiest days, the…read moreservers come to check on you and make sure you are okay. The staff are always super nice and knowledgeable. Festive atmosphere and good upbeat music. They do have gluten-free options! You can get tacos in a corn tortilla. Their cheese dip is good and the fajitas are wonderful! Their alcoholic drinks are great too!

Was in the area and it was well past lunch time. This place was recommended so I decided to give it…read morea try. Surprisingly the food was quite tasty. Even got a to go order for dinner later. While I waited I ordered one of the frozen margaritas. Probably one of the best I've had to date. That alone calls for a return visit. With the relaxed atmosphere of the interior it can be an ideal place to slow down and escape the rush of the day.

Munoz Mexican Grill

3.6

(49 reviews)

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Local to me and one of the best around! Go, you won't regret it. The servers are always so friendly…read moreand speak good English.

One of our favorite spots to go! So friendly, so consistent, nothing remotely negative to say. We…read morelove Munoz's!

La Cabanita

4.6

(11 reviews)

Favorite Mexican place. Got my usual of cheese quesadilla with rice and beans. First time to take…read moremy mom and it was great. Busy for lunch time! Great service! Great location. Great flavor. Can't beat the price!

The name may have changed, but the food and experience is still good. We've been here multiple…read moretimes over the years when visiting family or just in the area for whatever reason. The food is always good, and is always brought out very quickly. The staff is friendly and attentive, checking on us regularly. While the inside of the restaurant could probably use an update, the rest of the experience is great. We'll definitely come back next time we're in the area - it's a favorite.

El Poblano Mexican Restaurant

3.3

(50 reviews)

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I have been wanting to try this restaurant for years and finally went and left very disappointed…read more The prices were fair. We ordered queso after they asked if we wanted some and had to beg them for chips after they had given us a half basket of chips. They brought back another half basket. Our entrees were ok but just didn't seem very fresh. Unfortunately I don't see myself coming back here anytime soon.

To chip or not to chip. El Poblano (which I have been mistakenly calling 'Los Poblanos' for years,…read moremy apologies for the disrespect to our Singular Lonely Heart Club Pepper) is one of my favorite classic Mexican sit-down spots in the Birmingham Over the Mountain area. Today, I had the lunch special al pastor tacos. The al pastor was tasty, but I like mine heavy on the pineapple flavor, which most Alabama mercados tend to shy away from. Classic corn tortilla, tasty pork, cilantro, onion, and some good spicy sauce. Can't ask for more. The tacos were served with this vegetable medley on the side that was stunningly delicious. I could have eaten a whole bowl of that. I love the switch up from the default rice and beans. My mama ordered the cuban sandwich, which she said was very good and she took home half of it to have for dinner. Her sandwich came with fried plantains on the side, which I am a big fan of. When a plantain is done right, it's the best thing in the world. These ones were really good, I could have done with even more char/caramelization on the outside. This is a fantastic family spot, I'm sure that they can handle large parties well, too.

La Piramide

3.3

(32 reviews)

Service was wonderful, the only complaint was my food ( had the red sauce) was so salty that I…read moretruly was unable to eat it....

According to "their menu": FAJITA SALAD…read more Their choice of Steak or grilled Chicken, specially marinated and cooked with onions and bell pepper, served in a crispy tortilla shell with lettuce, tomatoes, grated cheese, sour cream and cheese dip. There was no lettuce, grated cheese or cheese dip. According to the manager after contacting about this issue said no cheese is included. Lettuce?? So what you pay for and what it says on their menu is not what you will get. I will not go back.

Maravilla’s Mexican Grill

(18 reviews)

Cute, small, local spot! Check for live music on Friday nights. Standard happy hour margaritas…read more Seated to chips and salsa (cilantro forward). I got the Vaca Loco. The steak was seasoned well and extremely tender. Rice was fresh and refried beans were definitely prepared with lard (delicious)! Quick and friendly service. Good prices both for lunch and dinner

I enjoyed my visit to Maravilla's Mexican Grill. There used to be another restaurant in this spot…read moreand I wasn't a huge fan. So, I was really excited when Maravilla's opened. I met my uncle here for a quick lunch and some drinks. Everything was superb! The customer service was stellar and we got our food quickly. There was plenty of parking and the drinks were also very good! I had a steak quesadilla. It was so big and there was plenty of meat packed in. The rice and beans were also great! I had a frozen margarita. I had the lighter version of it. Let me just say that they are not skimpy on the food or the drinks. I'm glad that I got the lighter version of the drink, as it was just right and the alcohol portion was perfect! The portion size of both the food and drinks were great. The server was also wonderful and our food came out very quickly. They also give you salsa and chips. The salsa was very good! I plan to try their queso dip the next time. I completely enjoyed my visit and I plan to go back very soon!

El Barrio

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