The best carne asada fries in San Jose!!! Beware if spice isn't your thing the guaca salsa that it comes with isn't always consistently the same spice level. Sometimes it has a kick and somethings it doesn't, but I don't mind. Make sure to ask for lime and salsa. I love their salsa verde, it usually has the perfect amount of kick. Service is always good and quick, I usually get takeout but there's plenty of seating. read more

Taqueria Lorena's - San Diego/Carne Asada Fries - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

We used to love this place and their burritos. We haven't been there in a while so we decided to go yesterday. Biting into the burritos my wife and I got nothing but refried beans in oil drenched tortillas. The beans were on the top half of the burritos with the meat and the cheese (I added on) in the bottom half. The meat was was not fresh, the tortillas were oily, the beans were nearly tasteless, and I couldn't even taste the cheese that I paid extra for. We will not be returning anytime soon! read more

Carne asada burrito was good. Hot sauce could use more heat. But nonetheless it was still good. Fast service for take out. read more

Taqueria Lorena's - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

Parking is a semi struggle. Staff were amazing. Indoor has ALOT of seating but they got rid of Their self serve taco bar :/ Chimichanga: 3/5, it has lost its touch and tasted very bland. Carne asada tacos: 4.5/5, still just as good but slightly dry. I believe they might have overcooked it a bit. read more

Taqueria Lorena's - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

My husband and I have passed by Taqueria Lorena's one too many times over the past 15 years, and we finally stopped by... not once... but twice in the same week. Admittedly I thought the first time was much better than the second, but now I just know what I would get from now on. Our first time there was on a Saturday for dinner around 7:30pm. The place was busy, and it felt like there was a constant flow of customers. Although we arrived right after a large party, the staff prepped our order really quickly. We got our food no more than 10 minutes. I ordered a camarones street taco, pescado street taco, and side of chips and guac. My husband got a couple of street tacos and a premium taco (forgot what it was called). I found the food to be super affordable, especially the side of guac that was $1.50 for the cup. The differences between the street taco and premium taco were the size of tortillas and toppings. The street taco consisted of meat, cilantro, onions, and sauce, whereas the premium taco had a bigger sized tortillas with meat, beans, and melted cheese. What's amazing is that they don't charge you extra for seafood. All the proteins are the same price. I enjoyed mostly everything I ate. Their chips were bomb. The pescado taco had an edge over the shrimp because of its spicy chipotle crema. The shrimp was cooked perfectly, but I wasn't in love with the red sauce it came with. When we came a few days later on Monday, I ordered shrimp nachos since I enjoyed their chips and shrimp. I'm a huge fan of nachos that melts freshly shredded cheese, which Taqueria Lorena's does, instead of liquified cheese. I appreciated that they didn't skimp on the shrimp. What I didn't like about the nachos was the excess of sour cream. I felt it was such an overkill, and it overpowered the seasoning. The nachos were a miss for me, but if I were to order it again I would certainly opt out of the sour cream or get it on the side. read more

Taqueria Lorena's - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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Came by for a late-night bite on a friend's recommendation and Taqueria Lorena's did not disappoint. It's a cute neighborhood taqueria on the corner, with a small parking lot in the back (always appreciated in San Jose). We had to try their famous potato tacos, and wow! They were SO good. They're vegan, but honestly, with the flavor and texture, you don't miss meat at all. Crispy on the outside, starchy and comforting on the inside -- everything good in one bite! We also ordered the carne asada and barbacoa tacos, and they were just as solid. The meat was seasoned so well that you genuinely didn't even need sauce (but of course, we tried the sauces anyway). And speaking of sauces -- their green and red salsas are super flavorful but definitely spicy, so be warned if you're heat-sensitive. I paired everything with an horchata, and it was one of the best I've had. It tasted like it was freshly made in-house, not from a powder mix, which makes such a difference. Definitely a spot I'd come back to, especially for late-night cravings. read more

The service here is super friendly and nice! I loved their prices, especially coming from the Bay Area. I added beans to my San Diego fries, and it was perfect. The guacamole is more on the lemon side, which I love. (Just an fyi for those who don't like lemon.) A cute spot for a grubby late night meal. read more

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First off, food. The food there is good. Compared to the other taco places, this one is much cheaper and very good portions. I won't say these are the best tacos, but they are definitely tasty and filling. Service. The service is always friendly. The cooks are usually talking, and will gladly let you into their conversation. The cashier during every visit I've had is always a lady, and she is nice. Very simple, nothing extra. Ambiance. Tables are always clean, the floor is typically clean or being cleaned. One thing I appreciate about this place is even during down time, the employees are always doing something. Makes me feel better knowing they care about the cleanliness of their work place. I come to this location every 8 weeks, due to me being out here for work every 8 weeks. I've never had a bad experience at this place, and I've also never seen it empty. I will keep coming back, and I recommend this place to anyone that's looking for some good tacos. So hard to find good tacos out here that are under 5.95 each. These are half the price and twice the size. Never change Taqueria Lorena's read more

Taqueria Lorena's - 2 asada tacos, 1 tripas, 1 pastor - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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Taqueria Lorena's is a quick, no-frills taco spot that delivers fast service and solid value, but the flavor fell a bit short of expectations. While the place is clean and staff are kind, the food itself didn't quite hit the mark for us. ---What I Had: --- Cabeza Taco Original Burrito w/ Al Pastor Original Burrito w/ Asada ---Food Impressions: --- Let's start with the positives: the burritos are generously packed with meat, making them a great deal for the price. I thought the al pastor had a solid, savory flavor- not overly sweet and nicely seasoned. The cabeza taco was fine, but nothing memorable. Where things fell short was in the overall burrito experience. Both burritos were on the dry side and noticeably lacking salsa, which really impacted the flavor balance. The salsa they gave us also was not great. I know that you shouldn't base a good burrito off of how good the sauce is, but I personally feel like sauce can elevate the experience especially when the burrito is dry (which they were). It's not your typical green/orange sauces served with tacos or burritos, but it was the darker green and red sauces that is usually accompanied with chips. ---Ambiance/Seating/Parking/Service: --- Service was quick and friendly, and the interior was clean with a semi-modern feel- not run-down, but not flashy either. Great for a fast, casual meal. I was able to park on the side in the single 'take-out' spot on the side street. ---Star Rating: --- 3 stars TLDR: Taqueria Lorena's is okay for a quick bite with generous portions and kind service, but the food itself was just alright. The meats were decent, but the burritos felt dry, a bit flavorless-overall, and salsas were not amazing. I'd return if I was nearby and wanted something fast, but I wouldn't go out of my way. ---How I Rate on Yelp:--- (5 stars): Exceptional!! -- food, service, and atmosphere all outstanding. Worth going out of your way. (4 stars): Great! -- very good experience overall, minor flaws but nothing major. (3 stars): Good -- decent, acceptable, but there's room for clear improvement. (2 stars): Poor -- disappointing experience, multiple issues (food, service, or setting). (1 star): Terrible -- very bad experience, would not return or recommend. read more

I've been here a few times since I moved to North SJ. It's definitely one of my favorite taqueria in this area. I know there's a few other Mexican restaurants in this area but Taqueria Lorena's always hit the spot and the prices are affordable. I appreciate the speedy service. The food is tasty with great flavors and they have salsa. Great portions too. My favorites are the tacos and burritos. Nachos are good and I need to try their San Diego fries next. Horchata is refreshing too. Very simple taqueria. Lots of seating indoors with a few seats outdoor too. Even have a restroom. I also appreciate the parking lot in the back although it's a bit tight so be careful. read more

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Ahhh...Taqueria Lorena's located on the corner next to Mesquite & Oak BBQ on 13th Street and Vestal Street. It's a very busy and popular place that opens fairly late. Street parking only but a small parking lot in the back. The restaurant is simple, plain, and modest. They do have indoor and outdoor seating available. It's a hole-in-the-wall place that they turn out delicious and authentic food. I got two tacos with Al Pastor (Marinated Pork) and Tripas (Beef Intestines). The pork was flavorful with a hint of spice. The intestines, I usually like when it's deep-fried and comes out crispy and crunchy. However, they don't make them this way. They are stewed and soft. Well, some pieces were good, and some were chewy/hard. Horchata - a bit chalky like another reviewer said. Which I agree with. I'll try another drink next time. I am glad I revisited this place. read more

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Located on the corner of 13th and Vestal. Not too sure if there's a parking lot but there is street parking if you get lucky. Found this local place on Yelp when looking for nearby Mexican food. I called in and placed an order for 4 items. It was estimated 10 mins for the order to be ready. We got carne asada fries which was the main dish to share with my sister and we really enjoyed it. The fries were still crispy by the time we got home. The vegan crispy taco was overly fried and oily so I didn't finish that. The soft taco was good but really spicy, they used some jalapeño or chili pepper in the pico de gallo. The sandwich/torta's bread was underwhelming but the stuffing was good. read more

Taqueria Lorena's - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

Been awhile since eating here , last time wasn't memorable either , it used to be people with great attitudes, laughter, and such .... I do know we all have bad days ,but in the service industry, you can't bring that to work , as for the food : - Carnitas dry af - chicken quesadilla was ok You want chips ? - its extra ! You want jalapeños ? - it's extra ! I used to crave coming here ... unfortunately, this may be my last time read more

I'm beyond upset with this place. My mom and my young daughter both ate the tongue tacos from here, and about 4 hours later they were both violently vomiting. It was scary and completely unacceptable, especially involving a child. What makes this even worse is how the situation was handled. When I contacted the restaurant, the manager refused to give a refund and straight up dismissed what happened, acting like it couldn't possibly be their food. Two people ate the same thing and got sick within hours-common sense speaks for itself. Food safety is not optional. The lack of accountability and concern from management is just as alarming as the situation itself. Instead of taking it seriously, they brushed it off and showed zero care. I would strongly warn others to think twice before eating here, especially if you're ordering for your family. read more

Although parking is scarce the food here is amazing and fairly priced for the quality and service

My go to Mexican place! Sooooo good! Tacos, burritos, nachos, fries! It's all tasty. We usually order ahead and come pick up but then have seating as well. There is also a few parking spots in the back which makes pick up easy. Will definitely continue to enjoy food here! read more

Taqueria Lorena's - Carne asada nachos! - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

If you want delicious food, amazing service and ambiance you really need to come, the workers are SOOO kind and the food is just amazing I really love this place!! read more

There seems to be a taqueria on every corner in this area, but Taqueria Lorena's is THE place to go, serving up some good tacos, burritos, and other classic mexican dishes in a casual setting with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating available. I got a steak and shrimp quesadilla minus the guac, on a large flour tortilla, and it was massive! I probably could have been full off the regular size, especially since they stuff it like a giant burrito (wrapped in foil for takeout), but it's all good cuz it was so delicious, I didn't mind having leftovers for later. The shrimp and steak were juicy and seasoned well, and created the perfect balance of flavor with all the other fresh ingredients. It didn't need any additional sauces on the side, but they were good too. I especially liked the green sauce, which I thought had better flavor and was milder than the red. Parking kinda sucks. The tiny lot in the back was full and street parking in the neighborhood was limited on a Sunday evening (though I got lucky and found a spot just a block away). It may take longer to find parking than to get your food. The service here is quick and efficient, with friendly workers. Even though there seemed to be an ongoing line of customers, they kept the order line moving, and the wait for my food to be ready was no more than 10 minutes. Note, this restaurant doesn't have the most inviting environment, and it isn't located in the cleanest or safest neighborhood, but the value of what you get here makes up for that. read more

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My Friend and I had lunch at this place. We both got a stomach bug. Mine was pretty severe that I had to take a day off work. I tried to call the store to let them know what went wrong. I tried to get in touch with the manager but they just hang up on me. I enjoyed the food, it was one of the better taqueria in the area. No matter how good the food is, it ain't work the pain of a stomach bug. read more

To start the tortilla was lightly toasted which added a nice subtle crunch to the burrito- was not expecting this but was pleasantly surprised. The meat was flavorful, it had a hint of lime. The most stand out part of this burrito is that there was virtually no grease, the whole thing from top to bottom was NOT oily - typically I feel pretty heavy after a big burrito but I feel really good/not bloated at all - and I scarfed it down. Loss of one point for the distribution of ingredients throughout the burrito-rice was really only in the bottom half of my burrito and the top was a little empty. But great place would go back. Made the burrito so quick - zero complaints about service. read more

Taqueria Lorena's - Regular Asada Burrito - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

My favorite taqueria! They never fail to disappoint! My absolute favorite is their flour quesadilla with carne asada, it's hella cheesey, meaty, and perfectly toasted . I really love the meat they use , it's always seasoned well and cooked to perfection with a lovely texture. Their San Diego Fries are also delicious. All of their portions are very generous . Their service is always super quick and friendly! It's a no-frills seating area with lots of room and I appreciate that they keep it tidy. Make sure to order chips and pickled carrots, they're both homemade and pairs perfectly with all their tasty food! read more

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The best fish tacos in the south bay. They're on point with all their food. I have never been disappointed with anything I've ordered. It's all good. Friendly, fast service, and fair prices. read more

If you're in the mood for Mexican street tacos, look no further than Taqueria Lorena's. The restaurant is nestled on a bustling corner just two blocks right off of 13th Street/Old Oakland Road exit of 101 freeway South in North San Jose. The menu offers a variety of Mexican food including a variety of meat fillings in their tacos, from tender carnitas to chile rub grilled al pastor, all served on fresh tortillas. The meats are seasoned, grilled to juicy perfection, and topped with a sprinkle of onions, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime - each bite is packed with flavor. And don't skip the homemade salsas! The green salsa is tangy with a touch of heat, while the smoky red salsa adds a delicious kick. Each taco is assembled with care, and you can taste the freshness of every ingredient. For this visit, I ordered 4 tacos: lengua (beef tongue cooked in broth & spices, tripas (intestines seasoned & grilled), buche (pork stomach seasoned & slowly braised) and chorizo (handcrafted Mexican pork sausage). It's a no-frills spot with a casual vibe, but the flavors are absolutely top-tier. Their fast service and satisfying tacos will keep you coming back. read more

Taqueria Lorena's - Tacos with lengua, chorizo, buche & tripas. - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

I miss this place. One of the best carne asada burritos in the world. Yes the world read more

As a native son, my friend Carlos knows how to pick the good taquerias In San Jose. Coincidentally I spent my high school years in the same city, but all I remember is devouring a half-dozen at Winchell's Donuts and going to the Peppermill before the junior prom. Im not sure how old Lorena's is, but it definitely has that sense of formica familiarity from my adolescence although I was more into pizzas than tacos back then. Carlos knew exactly what he wanted and ordered the $6.90 Three Flautas with chicken topped with shredded lettuce and green peppers and plopped with a big dollop of sour cream (photo: https://bit.ly/3TLQUqz). It was crunchy good and not too oily from the fryer. We shared the $2.50 Tamal with pork as they were huge for the bargain price and quite meaty with the masa just right (photo: https://bit.ly/3wYA9ij). I ordered the $12 Large Flour Quesadilla with Lengua. I really like tongue a lot. Oh stop that. I mean to eat, and I rarely see it scooped so liberally into a folded grilled tortilla (photo: https://bit.ly/3AR5X9Z). Worked for me, and Carlos thought it was pretty tasty, too. The friendly place was pretty popular with hungry locals as the formica tables turned over quite a bit while we were there. Their parking lot was one of those collision courses just waiting to happen, but that's Downtown San Jose for ya. FOOD - 4 stars...solid Mexican fast food executed well AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...at least the formica had a wood grain SERVICE - 4 stars...friendly and efficient TOTAL - 4 stars...I still like a lot of tongue RELATED - Exploring the South Bay? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2uv12JY read more

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For the people , great prices in 2024 . You can. Get all the essentials here . Burritos, tacos, champurrado!!! tamales preparados, platos, cerveza, tortas, ceviche, pozole, menudo... They get 5 stars because they do it all! And it just feels like the staff here is just walking in the presence of God! They're soooo friendly all the time and just willing to go above and beyond. read more

Hidden hole-in-the-wall near DTSJ! I was on the look out for a quick lunch spot and this place did the trick. They were FAST. I got my order in less than 5 minutes. If you stop by, I would recommend trying their Chicken Flautas or the San Diego Fries. Pros: + They are very generous with their sauce! My flautas and fries were COVERED in sour cream, guac, and green sauce. + Menu was very easy to navigate! Organized and lots of options. + Quick and straight forward customer service. You can pay with Apple Pay here too! Cons: + The horchata is very chalky, but light and sweet. Meh for $2.70. They also use paper straws... which are the worst. + Very minimal street parking. If you are doing takeout, they only have two parking spots for 15 minute parking in the front. read more

Taqueria Lorena's - Horchata ($2.70) - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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This place is so good that I went on a Tuesday then back again on Thursday. The nachos are magical. How on earth do they put so many amazing toppings and the chip stay crispy?!?!? Everything was phenomenal and the prices are so good it's ridiculous. It has the classic taqueria vibe and there is plenty of parking in the back. The service is quick and helpful. They even helped my friend and I to practice ordering in Spanish. We've been hitting Duolingo hard and they were so kind. Long story short... this is my new number one taco joint. read more

Taqueria Lorena's - Nachos with carnitas, pork tamal, al pastor mini taco, and chicken flautas. - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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I love this place because of the San Diego Fries; I haven't tried any other items in the menu but man the SD fries are really delicious. Its my 2nd favorite spot for a good Carne Asada fries. Sooo I suggest getting the SD fries the next time you're here, it's definitely 10/10. read more

Came to lunch with my friend for some good burritos. My friend got the carnitas burrito and i got the super carne asada burrito. The burritos were good and big. Very tasty! We also got agua fresca. It was refreshing for this weather. In addition we got red and green salsa. The red salsa wasnt as great, but the green one was good! If you ever feel like getting a burrito this is your spot! read more

Taqueria Lorena's - Sitting area - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

Went here on a whim with a friend and the food was great. The service was quick and friendly, the food was made quickly and everything was correct. The restaurant is a small place, but lively with locals. Would go again if I'm ever in the area read more

I've come here multiple times for their carne asada super burritos, carne asada super quesadillas and agua de horchata for some years now. The quality and taste are real good but the portions have been getting smaller lately. Please go back to the good portions read more

I was craving a burrito and on the lookout for a good taqueria. Yelp recommended this one in San Jose, and it had amazing reviews so I knew we needed to check it out. I really like that it was open until 11 PM, because after a long day of driving, this is just what we needed to round off the journey. I got the Super Burrito (asada, lettuce, beans, sour cream, salsa). They asked if I wanted spicy or mild salsa in the burrito ahead of time, which I appreciated, because it's so much better when they prepare it with the salsa! I love spicy things too, so this made it all the more flavorful. The burrito is also MASSIVE! I wasn't able to finish it all and packed it up for a midnight snack later. This was most definitely worth it for the price. My mom got the Regular tacos with asada, and said they were a savory heaven! The person taking our order also recommended we get their Jamaica agua fresca, and that was an amazing recommendation. The drink had the perfect level of sweetness to offset the savoriness of the burrito and tacos. P.S. At night it can be a little challenging to find parking. We had to wander around for 5-10 minutes to even find street parking. But it's definitely worth it to try this place out! read more

Taqueria Lorena's - Super Burrito - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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Hands down my favorite taqueria! This place isn't pretentious nor trendy, but it is AUTHENTIC. Taqueria Lorena is a favorite local spot located in an area with plenty of options for Mexican cuisine. Their food is delicious and is slightly on the spicy side. Service is both friendly and fast. The staff does a great job keeping their customers satisfied. Portion sizes are generous and prices are excellent. My favorite is a burrito sin frijoles with carnitas. read more

A hole in the wall place that has its own parking spot which is a big plus for an overall demanding street parking situation. The menudo, which is beef tripe soup is only available on weekends and it's sumptuous and delicious! Not spicy at all unless you put in the chili that came on the side along with raw chopped onions, cilantro and oregano. Also hot tortillas for the soup. The dorado which is cheesy potato vegetarian taco is delightful for kids. The shrimp soup is cold but delicious. It's a very good value restaurant. The best experience we had is also how helpful the other customers are because 90% of the diners are Mexicans and look like they frequent this place a lot. That proves the authenticity of this place. read more

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Such a find in San Jose if you're in this area. Lots of other restaurants around, but I'm glad others posted and have this spot good reviews. The carne asada torta was yum! As well as the carnitas burrito. Friendly staff who still wear masks while cooking (yeah!) and very helpful/patient when ordering. I plan to be back! read more

Taqueria Lorena's - Carne asada torta - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

I picked this spot because it's was starving and w/only $26 in my bank account. I filtered for nearby " lowest price" this one came up. Parking on front & side street as well as back parking lot. Service was FAST/FRIENDLY/NICE! They have 3 size tacos to choose from Mini- $2.35 Regular$2.75 (my choice) Grande $3.20 & $4.30 The tacos were pretty loaded w/meat which was nice 4 tacos filled me up ... This is not a luxury place it's just a grab n go place. Taste & flavor (was ok) But I appreciate the service & portions. read more

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Taqueria Lorena's is my go to spot for good cheap Mexican food. It's by no means a fancy place, definitely a small mom and pop operation. It literally used to be a hole in the wall, but got a remodel and looks far more presentable now. Lorena's has been around forever...well as long as I can remember! Open late, but in a sketch part of town, not the best neighborhood... but to be fair the neighborhood is getting gentrified. It's by far safer that it was a decade ago... Parking is challenging, there is a tiny lot in the back, but it's shared with the neighboring restaurants and the spots fill up fast during peak times. Good luck hunting for street parking! I haven't had anything bad here. ~ Tripas Burrito. Ahogado - 5/5 This is my go to burrito here. Ask for the Tripas to be Extra Crispy. You will get way more flavor and the texture will be Crispier on the outside and Chewier as well. ~ San Diego Fries w/ Tripas (Extra Crispy) 4.5/5 Can't believe it took me forever to discover the Fries. Generous portions, filling and tasty. This is a meal, not an appetizer ~ Carne Asada Burrito. Ahogado - 4/5 Basically a Carne Asada Super Burrito. Tasty and filling. Come on down and satisfy your late night cravings... read more

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The service and the food are excellent!! I highly recommend every single item! My son recommended me this place and we are regular customers now. Highly recommended if you want delicious Mexican food! read more

Best asada fries in the area!! We always go here when we're craving fries bc their San Diego fries have literally no other competition. The portions, the sauces, the melt in your mouth meats are all amazing. Ask for it extra crispy with half lengua and cabeza, maybe it'll become your routine order too haha. read more