I've been curious about Taqueria El Chacho for such long time because whenever I walked past I always see a long line of customers lining up, and the place always smells delicious from so far away. It's a Mexican chain from AZ (popular I think, they have like 53K followers on Instagram), and they just opened multiple locations in Bay Area, so this time I decide to finally give it a try. I ordered the Tripa Mulitas, Torta, and Horchata drink, Mulitas was $7, Torta $14, and Horchata was $7. They're all delicious, I was actually shocked at the first bite because I didn't know Mexican food could be this great (like I ate at a lot of Mexican place before, but this place is just chef's kiss). You seriously have to try their torta!! It has grilled meat, cheese, avocado, lettuce and tomato, all packed in there. Together with their green sauce, red sauce and some of the onion & jalapeno salad, I'm good for the whole day. The flavors are just so authentic and hit the spot perfectly. I totally get why there is always a line now. They officially converted me into a regular from today! If you see a crowd, just jump in line, it's worth the wait. read more

See all

This was my 1st experience eating Al Pastor Tacos and this was definitely a great place! A popular street taco stand literally on a mount of tan bark at Bridgepoint Shopping center. The flavors of the meat were delicious and as you call tell from the line of people, it's the spot! Food is 5 stars Tacos! Not much seating, literally just two tables and a few chairs. Wish there were more seating to enjoy there read more

Taqueria El Chacho - Al Pastor Tacos - Tacos Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Been here so many times but was too hungry to take any photos. But here it is! If you're ever near Foster City this is a must try! Al pastor is so flavorful. The burritos are huge! If you buy 1 torta sandwich you get 1 free!Always a line during the weekend, but if you have good timing then I wouldn't worry. Usually try to go by 6pm. They are right outside of Target so plenty of parking. read more

See all

Wow, amazing food. I ordered the burrito, and my wife had the quesadilla, and both were the best of each item that we've had for a while. Their setup is straight-forward and simple - parked in the lot, their grill and food stations, a couple of rink-a-dink tables, and that's it. One minor downside - the aqua fresca was super sweet. The sign of a good eatery starting out not thinking about food, then smelling it, and then all of sudden, we're starving and craving it. This place does that. read more

Last minute late dinner cravings & we've been wanting to try this place as it usually has a line but Sat nite was no line. Friendly service w/ a little quiet sarcasm. Food was delish, just super greasy but not sure if thats what didn't seat well w/ our tummy the next day. They have a great corner set up by Target and free advertising from Target customers, great thinking on their part. Love the flame going on their Al Pastor pit! We got Al Pastor Burrito and 2 Carne Asada w/ fried cheese on tortilla, forgot what they call it so it's basically mini quesadillas lol read more

Taqueria El Chacho - Tacos Near Me - San Mateo, California

I want more...flavorful bites that hit the spot. Long lines...but staff is nice and efficient so it's worth it. Value is competitive with taquerias but I'd say they have bigger bottom lines since they're set up outside. Overall a must-go when in the area. read more

See all

Hidden spot! I'd always see a long line in the parking lot when I'm shopping at target and always wondered what it was. Tacos and quesadillas here were so good! Al pastor tacos had great Al pastor meat, and the carnitas quesadilla was solid! I love the green salsa too. Tasty! Would recommend if you're hungry after a target shopping session. Line can be a bit long if you come at a peak time. 2 tacos and 4 quesadillas were $42 read more

Taqueria El Chacho - Al pastor tacos - Tacos Near Me - San Mateo, California

I'd been meaning to try taqueria el chacho for a while now, and so glad I finally did! Located at the corner of the foster city Bridgepointe plaza (Target corner), it makes for a great stop if you're nearby or if you want some amazing al pastor! It's no frills, service was quick and friendly. One person handles cutting off the al pastor and two others make the various different torta, tacos, and other options with Lengua, carne asada, cabezas, and more. Walk down further in the line to pay and you can also order horchata and agua frescas with the person running the cashier. We ordered strawberry and pineapple agua frescas, Al pastor tacos, cabezas and lengua tacos. We loved the al pastor the most! It's definitely one of the best Al pastor places. Salsa and toppings are DIY, and small side sauce dishes and ziplock bags are provided for your convenience, too. Can't wait to come back! read more

See all

If you want genuine and great tasting Mexican tacos and burritos, pass by you won't be disappointed. I flew in from Miami and glad I stumbled on this gem. read more

Taqueria El Chacho - 2 Tacos Asada & 2 Tacos Al Pastor - Tacos Near Me - San Mateo, California

These are amazing roadside tacos. It's busy and hot. You'll have a short line during dinner even on weekdays, but fear not: it moves quickly. What you DO get is hot fresh food. It's turning over fast, and greasy delightful flavor explodes. We had pastor and cabeza, and would recommend both. Meat is bring grilled on the side with real wood. I love the giant self-serve buckets of salsas at the end. It really shows how much volume of food they go through. read more

See all

All of the meats were very flavorful, and everything was fresh! Might be a recent update , but They do let you pay with card. They also let you put your own toppings - onions, cilantro, pickled onions, lemon, radish, 4 types of salsas (orange is dangerously spicy). There's small space for seating, about two long tables that can seat 10-12 people. read more

Taqueria El Chacho - Al pastor and carne asada with toppings - Tacos Near Me - San Mateo, California

Newark location. Oh man, everything cooked for the people ahead of me looked so good! The quesadillas and tacos really tempted me to switch up my order, but I had to go with my usual burrito (asada today). Fantastic. The melty cheese is a nice touch, and the salsas are great. read more

Taqueria El Chacho - Asada burrito - Tacos Near Me - San Mateo, California

The asada tacos 6.5/10, Pastor 8/10, and lengua was 5/10! The prices are very $$$! 3 tacos for $12 $4 PER TACO. Unfortunately that was why the rating a is pretty low read more

Taqueria El Chacho - Tacos Near Me - San Mateo, California

Got food poisoning be careful with the tripa here. Also expensive $4 for a taco is insane

The first time I ever came across Taqueria El Chaho, I couldn't help but notice their lights shining so brightly as I drove towards the Target parking lot. After driving past all of the folks standing in line and smelling the scent of grilled meat as soon as I got out of my car, like a moth to a flame, I almost felt compelled to wander over and check them out. With both my curiosity (and tastebuds) piqued with interest, especially after seeing their al pastor spit, I immediately knew I had to abandon my original dinner plans and come here instead! Sitting on the street corner on the edge of the Bridgepointe parking lot (the Target end, right by the Highway 92 on-ramp/off-ramp), Taqueria El Chacho's set-up isn't much to look at, but it's impressive. Beyond their awesome looking spit, with flames kissing the meat, they have a terrific range of menu offerings (taco, burrito, quesadilla, mulita, papa rellena, alambre) and selection of meats (al pastor, carne asada, tripa, chicken, cabeza, suadero, lengua, chorizo, buche). Just start by telling the worker manning the spit whatever al pastor-related items you want and then everything else with the guys that assemble everything else. Also, don't miss the bins of grilled onions and peppers! -- AL PASTOR TACO By far their most popular item (or meat, at least) and it's not hard to see why! The slices of pork are super moist and perfectly charred while the marinade was so flavorful. Plus, loved the slice of pineapple! -- POLLO TACO My least favorite of the meats I've tried. While it had a decent, albeit subtle, taste to it, I wasn't a fan of how the chicken was in such small chunks. Oddly, it was somewhat dry yet it didn't have much crispiness to it either. -- CARNE ASADA TACO This may not have been all that special, but it was no less solid. On the plus side, I liked how well seasoned and beefy the meat was. On the other, as with the chicken, I wish the outside of the beef had a crust on it. -- AL PASTOR BURRITO I enjoyed this, but 16-year-old me would've loved this even more! Not only did this have a whole plate of al pastor in it, but it was also loaded with rice and beans. That said, I wouldn't have minded some lettuce and/or pico de gallo for some freshness. Sadly, I didn't get a photo... -- CHORIZO TACO This was terrific! As with the other tacos, there was a fair amount of meat in it and the chorizo itself was juicy with a nice touch of spice to it. Still, I do wish the chorizo had a meatier taste to it. -- CABEZA TACO Possibly my first ever cabeza taco and it was so good! The meat was really tender and I liked how naturally flavorful it was. Granted, the fact the meat was so fatty surely helped, but this was no less tasty. -- SUADERO TACO This was pretty good, but, compared to some of the other meats, it didn't really stand out. Essentially like a brisket cut, the suadero was really tender, but it felt like it needed more time on the grill to brown. -- AL PASTOR MULITA Despite being a bit oily, this tasted fantastic! Between the melted cheese and the slight crispiness of the tortilla, I actually thought this was more flavorful than the regular taco. I'd come back just for this! -- HORCHATA AGUA FRESCA I was a little skittish on trying their fruity agua frescas, but this was great! Along with how refreshing this was, I liked that it wasn't heavy on the cinnamon nor overly sweet. As other folks have mentioned, the line can be a little long at times, but it's not always long either. The first time I came here, it took about 30-45 minutes to order around 8pm on a Friday night. However, on my most recent trip here, we only had to wait about 15 minutes at about 7pm on a Saturday. Also, even though they only have a couple of folding tables, there usually seemed to be seats free (most folks seemed to either at their cars or left). Even if the line was long, though, the majority of the food is well worth the wait. Similarly, I do think most things are worth the money, but it's fair to note that the prices are higher than what you might expect for street food ($4 for taco, $14 for a burrito...unsure about the rest). That said, at least they take credit cards/Apple pay now and are one of the few places in the area that's open late, too! All in all, FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded down for now. read more

See all

Located in Bridgepointe shipping center right next to the Tesla superchargers, parking is plentiful and easy to find. The line gets pretty lengthy relative to the number of staff working. However, line moves quickly. The al pastor taco is a must get. The meat was tender and the pineapple was a nice touch. The tripa and asada were really good too. They got a nice assortment of toppings at the end after your pay. They unfortunately don't take card but cash and Zelle are accepted. There's also no seating or rather one table so you kinda have to get lucky. read more

Taqueria El Chacho - Tacos! - Tacos Near Me - San Mateo, California

The food was delicious and full of flavor. Service is good too. The staff is super friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere is casual and clean. read more

Taco, vibe and location . Only thing is to grilled the tortillas longer. Service is on point. read more

Taqueria El Chacho - Al Pastor Taco Only thing if they can grill the tortillas just a little longer... - Tacos Near Me - San Mateo, California

Unsanitary and dangerous spot to be serving food on an edge of the parking lot next to the sidewalk. We see more of these sidewalk pop up vendors on all Target Stores perched between the parking lots edge and public sidewalk and wonder who checks for food safety and proper handling etc. no running water and a major health concern. Tried to see if the food is good but when we saw how it was handled, and yes paid for it, we had to push back and no thanks. . read more

Taqueria El Chacho is a **must-visit for authentic, high-quality street tacos on the go**. Their al pastor is phenomenal, and the lengua is arguably the best - melt-in-your-mouth tender and juicy. While it's just a tent No seating or dining area. Focus is purely on the food., the incredibly fast service and outstanding, fresh tacos more than compensate. Just grab your order, load up with their simple fresh toppings and chiles, No pico de gallo, but fresh onion, cilantro, and tasty chiles toreados are available. Grab a refreshing drink, and enjoy top-tier tacos wherever you please! **Highly recommended** for taco lovers seeking authentic flavor and speed. I'll be back Open 6 pm come 15 minutes & get a line read more

See all

So you fortunately this place is a no for me; and hear me out as to why It's super salty; the first time I was here; it was salty and I thought maybe it was that el pastor marinate etc; but we tried it again and it's the saltiest el pastor I have ever had in my life; and I am a big fan of Mexican food I have had tacos from this spot of el pastor and suadero and it's super salty; have tried their burritos as well and same, it's super salty; I could not eat the meal we got today. I do like salsas bar offerings and it's at the end by the checkout (and yes you guessed it, they are also salty!) Customer service is good, not bad, and they are friendly The location is in the edge of a parking lot; and there is half a line. I do think they need to protect people's health and not add that much salt in their food Overall disappointing, and sad to write this sad read more

See all

Visited Taqueria El Chacho after finishing up holiday shopping and it was a convenient stop. There wasn't a long wait and the service was fast, which was great. I ordered three al pastor tacos and my husband got three asada tacos. I really liked that they have a toppings station so you can customize your tacos exactly how you like them. The flavors were good overall, though I wish the al pastor had a bit more punch. It felt a little mild. A few tables are available if you want to eat in. It was a little pricey for what we got, but still enjoyable. read more

Great al pastor tacos. I love it when al pastor comes with pineapple and theirs did not disappoint! Also tried my friend's lengua taco and that was good as well. I also really like all 4 of their salsas! Fast service. Cash or Zelle only. read more

Taqueria El Chacho - Tacos Near Me - San Mateo, California

Absolutely perfect Al pastor meat. Just the right char, tasty, a taste of pineapple. Exceptional but really mostly people who actually know about Al pastor will appreciate how excellent this place is. I'm a burrito and taco eating machine, born in East LA and I'd say this is one of the best Al pastor in the bay. They're friendly and quick. There were 10 people in front of me and I was walking back to my car in 16 minutes. Bring cash cause that's all they take. read more

See all

I am a huge huge fan of street tacos so when I saw the trompo with al pastor and a line near the bridgepointe target I knew I had to join! Unfortunately by the time I arrived they were out of cabeza and lengua so I just had the pastor, asada, and pollo. When I finally tried the tacos i was disappointed because they were so salty! Especially the al pastor. I was confused because it really tasted like salt was dumped on it. I'm not sure why this place is popular when the tacos are extremely salty. And the asada and pollo were also just not very impressive. And add on to the fact that each taco was $4, so it was just overall not the best experience. read more

Drove by once and saw a crazy line so I knew I had to come back to try, safe to say it DID NOT disappoint! Came by at 9pm on a Saturday night w a minimal line. We ordered 4 al pastor tacos and the meat was freshly shaved off the trompo. The Al pastor meat was tender, juicy, and had incredible flavor. The hint of sweetness from the pineapple paired perfect. We also got an asada taco and that one was incredible too. All tacos were loaded with the meat and the flavor and quality reminded me a lot of LA street tacos. The pastor burrito was also amazing - they melt the cheese on the grill first so there's a nice crust on the inside when you bite into it. I will say the rice was a bit mushy but still an incredible burrito. There is very little seating but most people take their orders to go! read more

See all

Are you from LA craving authentic street tacos? Look no further. Authentic, flavorful, and clearly very popular based on the reviews and occasional line. I didn't wait more than 5min on a Thursday evening at 7PM. They have no menu. You sorta just gotta know how to order and find out how much you owe at the end. Four tacos & a large Horchata was $23. Slightly pricey but to be expected? When I was filling up on salsas I spilled my entire cup of horchata and the woman at the register replaced it without me ever having to ask - super nice of her! Overall, will come back. It's really good read more

See all

I kept wondering what this white tent was in the Target parking lot and finally decided to stop by and see why there was always a line in front of it They have al pastor kebab with the pineapple at the top. They slice the meat in front of you The person in front of me got a quesadilla and I knew i had to get it cuz the guy slaps all this cheese directly on the grill and then the tortilla on the cheese and then flips it over and teh cheese is all browned and crispy. and then they slap a ton of juicy al pastor on top of that. the slices are THICK and the green salsa is so fresh. the orange salsa has this deep smokey flavor and then it hits you with a lot of SPICE. amazing. read more

Taqueria El Chacho - Al pastor - Tacos Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Amazing street tacos! This was probably my sixth time coming here to get Al pastor tacos and every time they hit. Be prepared this place is only cash or Zelle no card. The staff is very friendly and very helpful even if you do not speak Spanish. I would say the location makes it very easy to get quick and easy food on the way home. Flavor of the tacos are unreal tho where I have came back time after time when visiting East Bay. The green guacamole salsa they offer too is so tasty too! You gotta try this spot read more

Taqueria El Chacho - Al pastor - Tacos Near Me - San Mateo, California

Apparently Taqueria El Chacho hails form Arizona... Matters not where you are from...as long as you can make some brilliant TACOS!!! And yes! They do churn out some delish Tacos, albeit on the pricier side. Then again, it might just be the food inflation that nobody talks about. At $4 a Taco these scrumptious Tacos are packed with meat. The "Taqueria" itself has a very odd set up. It's a make shift stand on the corner of Fashion Island Blvd and the 92 Exit just as it becomes Baker Way. Park in the Target parking lot and walk on over. The first thing that stands out is the Al Pastor on the spinning on the Trompos. From my experience that is generally a good sign. They also serve Carne Asada, Lengua and Chicken. There are a couple of bench tables behind the Taco stand to sit down, not a whole lot of room. I also don't advise sitting there during sever weather. There is NO menu anywhere...I looked! No prices listed either. As of Jan. 2025 They only accept CASH or Zelle, no Cards or Venmo. #Tacos and More: ~ Tacos - 4/5 Had to try the Al pastor Tacos, especially since the first thing you notice is the spinning on the Trompos with it. Stuffed with meat and topped with a slice of Pineapple. Good stuff. You can add whatever you want to it later. ~ Al Pastor Burrito - 4/5 Just like the Tacos the Burritos are stuffed with meat. They ask you what else you want in it. I added everything. Just a very good Al Pastor burrito. ~ Carne Asada Burrito - 4/5 The same goes for the Caren Asada Burrito; packed with meat and with everything added. Very good. I think the Burritos are $12? I'm not certain...had to do some detective work. Subtracting the price of Tacos and dividing the balance with the number of burritos. There is no receipt, I don't know if they charge tax... While we were waiting we saw them make Quesadillas and Tortas, both looked amazing. I need to try them the next time! read more

See all

Ok, so the tarp caught on fire and plastic literally melted onto the pork and pineapple... it's street food, I'm not expecting very health code to be met, but that was unacceptable. The tacos were ok - the best meat were the lengua (tongue) and asada. I believe it was $4 per taco, they don't have a menu so it's hard to tell. The queue in line is pretty fast, but chaotic. They do not take your order all at once, but once you past certain people you order the tacos, burritos, quesadilla in a staggered order. The burrito was huge but it was a bit salty. Loved that they have a sauce bar and condiments all at the end, but it was right by the checkout so it was a bit crowded. The sauces were all just ok. They take Zelle as payment! read more

See all

CASH AND ZELLE ONLY. taco stand located in the target parking lot. they have one table and a couple of chairs on the side for seating. order pastor tacos first, then you order everything else at the grill. self serve sauces (red, green, habanero, avocado) and toppings at the end. there isn't a menu, but it seems like tacos are $4 and quesadillas at $13. the line moves pretty slow so be prepared to wait. - pastor (4/5): sooooo juicy. i normally don't care for pastor like that but this was sooo good. my only complaint would be that it was a little too salty - they give a good amount of meat and the quesadillas are huge. they also cut the pastor a little chunkier for the quesadillas - the habanero sauce is HOT. we were all dying. everything else was standard overall would come back again for the pastor!! if they fixed the saltiness would be a 5/5 read more

Taqueria El Chacho - Tacos Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Open late, delicious, cheap, and fast service. $4 tacos with many options, I'd recommend the delicious Al pastor (with pineapples ofc) or brisket; there's also a convenient and plentiful self service salsa/topping bar with cilantro, onions, lime, etc. It's nice the peninsula has a taco stand that compares to those in LA. The pineapple Fresca was pretty good too ($7 for a large iirc) though I'd probably skip next time. Location can be rough eating there as it's off the 92 on/off ramp so I'd recommend bringing a jacket or taking it to go. read more

Taqueria El Chacho - Mandatory Al pastor pic - Tacos Near Me - San Mateo, California

overall: 4/5 tacos: - al pastor: 3.5/5, i think it taste good but it's never been my favorite - lengua: 5/5, this is my favorite here, must get - cabeza: 5/5, another good one! would also get - i love both green sauces, tomatillo sauce was bit spicier than the other green one. torta: 4/5, i got this with lengua and wanted to try bc i have never got it before. i thought it was good but not my favorite version of eating lengua. i would rather get tacos but good if you want something more filling minor marks: lines can get pretty long sometimes around 30-45 mins during busy times, and tacos at $4 a piece is a bit pricey. read more

See all

Top notch tacos! We drove to the parking lot, stood in line for 30 minutes, and then.... I ordered Al pastor tacos. The guy sliced bits of meat from an enormous spit of roasted pork. He cut off a it from the pineapple impaled in the top of the meat. He caught the meat and fruit on a corn tacos. He handed it to me. It was outstanding ! read more

Taqueria El Chacho - Al pastor - Tacos Near Me - San Mateo, California

Tasty Al Pastor Tacos, Quesadillas. Burritos and Toras and many other traditional taqueria meats served street side right at the end of the Exit 14A freeway off ramp next to Highway 92, .Come for the tacos, which are decent, but the real pro tip is to order the quesadillas or burritos.. they are HUGE and filling! On weekend evenings, there tends to be a line, but it does move, albiet a bit slowly at times.. The vibe here reminds me of the street side taco stands all over Los Angeles, so it's nice to have a little bit of that energy right here in NorCal too! All of the staff here are native Spanish speakers, but they do understand English just barely enough to take your order! Just be ready to tell them what you want when your turn comes up. Friendly crew, no posted menus or posted pricing, but expect $4 per taco, more for the bigger items like a Quesadilla, Burrito or Torte and $7 for a giant Horchata or other drink. Cash or Venmo only - no credit cards. Plenty of convenient parking in the giant parking lot at the Target right next to this Taco Stand. I can't wait to come back for another Quesadilla or maybe the Ginormous Tortas! Solid! read more

Taqueria El Chacho - The queue.. - Tacos Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Very good tasty Al pastor tacos , they also now take credit cards . I'm not thrill in the sitting area , but we just took ours home . read more

Nestled in the corner of the Target parking lot, this taco chain from Arizona has now opened in San Mateo. The star of the show is the Al Pastor with the pineapple on top. Honestly, that's the only reason to come here. The meat is pretty good quality. We tried a lot of their other flavors as well but were mostly disappointed with maybe the exception of the intestines which were ok. Once you get served your tacos of choice, you can then grab your condiments (self serve), salsa and pay. Everything is out in the open and constantly exposed with no refrigeration or place to store things to keep them fresh; hygiene doesn't seem to be a top priority so venture at your own risk. Tacos are supposed to be $4 each which honestly is a little steep for what you get from a taco pop up without much overhead. Also keep in mind to do your own math. They tried to overcharge us and we had to correct them. Whether it was intentional, who knows but it sure seemed like it. You pay via Phone / Zelle. The place is visible when you drive by right at the corner of the intersection; you can park in the Target lot and walk over. The makeshift tents get set up every night around 6PM and stay open late until around midnight it seems. They even have seating available with some string lights which is a nice touch. The staff seems friendly and hard working. Overall, while the Al Pastor was definitely good, nothing else really stood out and at the price point you aren't exactly getting a great deal either so can't really give it more than 4 stars. read more

I really enjoyed the al pastor tacos with the pineapple. The warm pineapple really gave the spiced savory meat a perfect compliment of sweetness. I'll definitely be coming back for more of that one! We also tried the carne asada tacos which was good but not like super amazing. The stand had a clean outdoor setup and even tables and chairs on the grass! For an outdoor food stall I thought it was pretty inviting especially after a Target run! Haha. Price was $4 a taco and at the time we visited they only accepted cash or zelle. But I saw some reviews say they accept venmo too but maybe it depends on the day. read more

Taqueria El Chacho - Tacos Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

I knew I had to come try this spot when I saw it pop up on the corner. I paid $4/taco and had a choice of different salsas. I ended up taking the food home since it was a bit cold outside. The tacos were delicious and I devoured each one. However, due to the outside weather, I had to warm up my food when I got back home. they are cash only but also take Zelle. Definitely worth a try if you haven't been and I would come back. read more

See all