We have been fans of this establishment since we moved to the area, and it has become one of our go-to spots for Mexican food. One of my favorite things about this restaurant is the extensive salsa bar. There are so many great options, and I love me some chips and salsa!!! The service is pretty straightforward -- you order at the register, and they bring your food out to your table. Don't expect a lot of extra attention or over-the-top friendliness, but what they may lack in customer interaction, they definitely make up for with the food. The food is always delicious, flavorful, and satisfying. The prices are comparable to other restaurants in the area, and the portions and quality make it worth coming back. I personally always go for one of their shrimp dishes, and they never disappoint. If you're looking for great Mexican food with a fantastic salsa bar, this place is definitely worth trying! read more

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Taquería El Carnaval is a great spot! Super casual and good price for the portions. They have great house salsa. The Red Snapper Taco is delicious. I like how you can also order enchiladas à la cart when you want to have a little of everything. Great place! read more

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The stars are for the staff, the salsa bar, and the cleanliness of the restaurant. The lack of stars is for the food. It is bland and overpriced. I used to come here once a week pre-covid and loved it, but tried it recently and the food has really gone downhill. $18 for three birria tacos, doesn't even come with beans and rice, only rice. There was less than a 'Taco Bell amount of meat' in them, no cilantro and onions, and the consomme tasted like water. My mom got the chicken taquitos, which also had no flavor, and the meat only filled up 3/4 of the shell. Also there was a shrimp on my michelada the was not deveined. Sad how bad the food here got, with all the little taquerias around town delivering authentic flavors, I will not be returning. read more

Taqueria El Carnaval - Shrimp not cleaned properly - Mexican Near Me - Placerville, California

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I recently purchased a large platter of enchiladas and rice and beans to serve a party of six people... It was excellent... From the food to the service and I also felt it was reasonable in price for what was provided.... It was split between Chicken, ground beef and cheese just the way I asked. Everyone exclaimed how good it was. I go there fairly often for lunch or dinner and have never been disappointed, but I'd never ordered a large family meal to go and they outdid themselves...If you haven't tried this place yet you do not know what you are missing... Traditionally, I'm not a fan of Mexican food but after I've tried El Carnival's I've decided it's because I never really had good Mexican food... read more

I enjoy coming here for lunch and dinners. Great food and excellent service. The place is always clean and managed well. My friends have also enjoyed coming here. read more

I love this place. The food is great and the people are nice, and in a Mexican restaurant that's really all I need. No complaints EXCEPT... If you don't carry cash there's no way to leave a tip! read more

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Update: $4.05 for a street taco is crazy. Took my stars back that's ridiculous for a 2 bite taco could smack 10 of these and it's gonna be $40 why do they advertise "tacos" plural on the menu with a picture of 3 read more

Taqueria El Carnaval - Expensive a** $4.05 taco - Mexican Near Me - Placerville, California

I used to love this place and then they started buying store-bought tortilla chips. Any place that doesn't have homemade is a warning sign. I wish I would go back but not until they start making homemade chips... read more

The prices are RIDICULOUS now. I used to pay $14.95 for an Octopus & shrimp Cocktail. I went there Monday to get it and it was now $22.50 That's WAY TOO MUCH for a seafood cocktail so I bought a burrito instead for $15.64 & I paid WAY TOO MUCH for what I got I won't be returning there anytime soon! I won't waste my money read more

Love the staff and food. We are there almost weekly. All the food is awesome. The best place in town.

The food is always delicious, absolutely one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the Placerville area. The people who work here are friendly and polite. They get the food out SO fast and accommodated my request of a grilled jalapeño on the side, free of charge! Love this place!! read more

Food and service...excellent! They are constantly cleaning & mopping. The smell of cleaning products permeates the air which overpowers enjoying one's meal. Otherwise, I love his Taqueria! read more

Best food around. We fly from Texas to get authentic Mexican food! You must give it a try! read more

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Great service! Consistent quality and the fresh salsa bar is wonderful. You order at the counter, but the staff delivers your food and checks in on you while you eat. Keep some cash on you because then absolutely earn a tip. read more

The food looks and taste amazing! But honest you guys should be ashamed to charge $3.50 for a tiny 16oz cup of tamarindo I feel robbed if the food itself wasn't great I'd give you guys 1 star. This is my dinner tonight as I'm working in the area! Sucks for me! read more

Taqueria El Carnaval - Mexican Near Me - Placerville, California

I do like their food but the guy that took my order was rude and unfriendly . Asked for a wet burrito with green sauce and ended up with red sauce . I was very clear with wanting green sauce . Not a hard order to remember. The owner is always friendly but not his worker behind the counter. read more

Always quick and delicious! Nice outdoor seating, Bomb margaritas too! And churos! Our favorite

Food was great, atmosphere was a plus and the service was absolutely excellent. Everyone we met was nice and chatty and had excellent recommendations. We really enjoyed our lunch read more

This is the fastest Mexican food place that is not considered fast food! Stopped on our way back from a snowboarding trip, we had a big group of 8 and by the time the 8th person was ordering the first person to order already had their food! It was so quick and tasted good too! The margaritas are huge! read more

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My family, colleagues and friends come here often not just to enjoy a great meal but to celebrate birthdays and other celebrations. There is lots of space inside and outside on their patio. The food here is amazing and everything always tastes fresh and homemade! I highly recommend their enchiladas and any of their tacos. Food comes out quick and everyone is always friendly! read more

When I walk into an eatery and see a diverse clientele eating there, I know it is gonna be good. Well I got that vibe while I walked into this taqueria for the first time. It was on a recent lazy weekend afternoon between lunch and dinner time. The place was hopping. The line was long but moved super quick. The food came out quick also. The food was pretty darn good and service was excellent. The staff was so uncommonly nice and welcoming. Feel good vibes. I ordered a crispy pork soft taco and a lengua soft taco. $2.80 each. They had a good portion of meats and topped with different salsas. Each one having its own crazy delicious, unique flavor. The pork was cooked so that the edges of the meat had that indulgent crispiness without the burn. Mmm. They had a complimentary chips n salsa bar. Yay... bring it on. The chips were crisp and sturdy. Not too thick and not thin n flimsy. The salsas had a nice variety and in varying heat levels. They even had green salsa which is my fave. Hubs had a crispy hard shell beef taco. He liked it. But our lunch companion had a wet steak burrito. It was massive and looked so good. It is his fave. Actually, he was the one that recommended this place to us. Hubs kept thinking about the burrito for several days later, so he broke down and went back on a solo trip to get the burrito. He luved it. Ha! Since know we know about this place, I reckon we will be back again. read more

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Food was great, my husband really enjoyed his enchiladas plate. Everything was fresh. I had a chicken burrito, shredded chicken , all was tasty not bland. Customer friendly, checking to see all is well. Relaxed environment. Would go again when in the area. Thanks so much! read more

The worst mexican food I have tried ! My order lacked one of the ingredients. Salsa was old and not up to par ! Recommend by a family member. I will Never go back !!!!! read more

Good experience here over Memorial Day weekend. Clean restaurant, patio, and salsa bar. The staff are on top of it all here. The salsa bar has all of my favorite items - fresh chips, Pico de Gallo, pickled carrots, onions and jalapeños, whole radishes, nopalitos, lime slices with lots of juice, guac flavored salsa, many different kinds of salsas nicely marked. Lengua was delicious. Some of the carne asada was overcooked but not all and it tasted fabulous. The two individual restrooms are spacious, clean and well-stocked. Prices are a little steep, $2.85 per taco. Came to a little under $7 for two taqueria tacos. But, everything is becoming more and more expensive. Thanks America and politicians for your irrational response to rona. Thankfully, I didn't need a large meal and the chips & salsa bar filled me a little more. I'd return to eat at Taqueria Carnival. Especially with the El Dorado Trail a little further down the road for some good bicycling. Try it out for yourself, the patio is nicely shaded for the most part, too. Can easily set bikes near your table. read more

Taqueria El Carnaval - L-R Carne asada taco, lengua taco. Chips & salsa, nopalitos, pickled carrots and onion, radish. All great!! - Mexican Near Me - Placerville, California

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We love this place, the food is great and the service is friendly. We get takeout once a week and have for quite some time. BUT, this is our last time. Our order is ALMOST ALWAYS wrong in some way. It's so disappointing and kind of astonishing that they can get it wrong this often. read more

Been here a few times and has been delicious and fresh every time we have tried tacos, burritos, the fajita plate and the chilaquiles they have been super flavorful and fresh everything. read more

My bill came up to $42. I Thought I gave two $20 bills and a five dollar bill and the change went to the tip jar. When I got home, I realized that I had mistakenly Given a $100 bill instead of a $20 bill and so they ended up with an $80 tip. When I called back, they said I gave them $50 But that's not true. I pulled out specific bills at the ATM before arriving and spent no money afterwards. read more

muy buen servicio del señor ignacio en la caja siempre muy atento y buena vibra good service from ignicio in the front taking my order always good vibes and always making me and my family feel welcome read more

Not sure what the negative reviews are about -- this has been our favorite local Mexican spot since we moved to the area a few years ago, and today's visit confirmed it again. The food is amazing, the service is great, prep is unbelievably quick, and the flavors are always on point! read more

I am from Southern California and this place and this place is NOT authentic when it comes to the flavor of the food. I ordered the carnival burrito and the meat had NO Flavor. I added salsa to try and give it some flavor and it didn't. Salsa was mostly water. Also ordered fires and these things are not edible. Hopefully they get better. Breast place to have some beers at. read more

Taqueria El Carnaval - They didn't make the carne asada correctly. Blah - Mexican Near Me - Placerville, California

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Really bad service today. The guy at the register did not take my order correctly. I did not realize until I received my order at the table. When I informed the establishment that I did not get what I ordered, the guy from the register came to my table and argued with me. I would have never ordered what he thought I had ordered. He showed me what he wrote down which is what was delivered to my table incorrectly. He must have wrote the wrong item down. I did eventually get what I ordered but when I thought how much I paid it was alot more because I was charged for the incorrect order. I could have asked them to refund me the difference but it just was not worth it. I will not return. read more

Fantastic food and service every single time. Highly recommend. The soup is amazing. Staff look after you very well without being overbearing. Love eating here and do so regularly. It's also super clean and has great bathrooms. read more

El Carnaval is still the best taqueria in the foothills! I hope they don't ever change as the food tastes great, the service is fast, prices are for a family are affordable !! I love the tacos, burritos and so many other items I can't list them all!! While I can't attest to authenticity- bestauthentic Mexican food read more

Food was ok but I couldn't get past the smell to even be able to enjoy my food. The smell of purple pine-Sol plug ins were everywhere..... in the bathroom and all over restaurant. I felt like I could taste it. I want to smell the good food your cooking Not pine-sol, it was horrible. Ate outside but didn't really help I could smell the purple plug in outside.Food was ok rice and beans were super salty and asada tasted like he had no flavor.Sorry but it's a no me! read more

Taqueria El Carnaval - Two combo meal with an enchilada and a taco - Mexican Near Me - Placerville, California

I liked this place for a couple of dishes: (fried fish, enchiladas) , but now I'm less likely to visit. They recently removed the PICO DE GALLO from their salsa bar. I LOVED their salsa bar, but not so much now - it's just like. Taqueria El Carnival Management: please don't be a cheap Scrooge and bring it back! Your salsa bar was 1/2 the reason I ate there. I'm now more likely to go somewhere else. read more

Lots of options, very clean, and they are always polite and fast!. They have a lovely outdoor space as well! read more

Taqueria El Carnaval - Inside - Mexican Near Me - Placerville, California

Feels like home, tastes like heaven. Tacos and Tortas on point, we ate it all so fast I couldn't take pics of the food! Excellent salsa bar too! read more

Okay! This was a big surprise. Big! Big! Big Surprise!! This place is located in the middle of Placerville. This was recommended by one of the martial artist that lived Placerville. We just finished a training session and we were crazy hungry. He recommended this spot even when I told him I'm from San Jose, CA. Yup! This place matches up. I had their Chili Relleno and my friend had the burrito Asada. For both, they knocked this one out of the park. The Chili Relleno was totally good. The breading was so fluffy with body. The cheese gently oozed out like sticky milky caramel coming out of steamy cake. I also had a michelada which I had to subtract a star. They didn't put enough of that tomato juice and not enough rim. Other than that, this should be a place to go For Mexican food. Must visit place in Placerville. read more

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The service was incredibly fast! I ordered the carnitas burrito and I have to say that this being out here in Placerville easily competes with meals of similar kinds in Sacramento. So if you are hungry for a quick bite while traveling to or from Tahoe this is the place to stop. The ambiance is clean and conducive with the salsa bar to add an additional touch of class to the food. read more

Amazing food. Super fast service. Ordered combo plate to go. Very good sized portion in a large box. Definitely worth the trip and cost. Every bite was better than the last. Full of flavor and cooked to perfection. read more

Taqueria El Carnaval - Mexican Near Me - Placerville, California