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Name: The Original El Taco
Address: 1186 N. Highland Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA, 30306
Telephone: (404) 873-4656
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.78

The Original El Taco

1186 N. Highland Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA, 30306

(404) 873-4656
Store is closed

The Original El Taco Menu

Tastes

House Salsa

Guacamole

Queso Blanco

Queso Royale

Classic Tastes Trio
House Specialties

El Short Stack

Green Chile Relleno

Hanger Steak Pinchos
Tacos

Fried Chicken

Smoked Chicken

Steak

Chorizo

Fried Fish

Veggie

Pork Carnitas

Fried Chicken Liver

Mushroom

Chalkboard Taco
Sizzling Fajitas

Steak

Chicken

Shrimp

Chorizo

Combine Any 2
Enchiladas

Chicken & Corn

3-Cheese & Poblano

Shortrib

Black Bean & Rice
Mexican Pizza

Veggie
Soups & Salads

Posole

Grande House Salad
Sides

Mexico City Grilled Corn

Refried Black Beans

Cowboy Pot Beans

Wood-grilled Scallions
Add Ons

Guacomole

Sour Cream

Queso Blanco

Sliced Avocado

Sunny-Side Up Egg

Extra Tortillas (3)

Lettuce & Tomato

Sweet Pickled Vegetables

Spicy Pickled Vegetables

Lime Slaw

Marinated Cabbage

Cheese

Jalapenos

Salad Dressing
Entrees

Chesee Quesadilla

Black Bean & Steak Tostada

Fried Chicken Taco

Fried Fish Taco

Ground Beef Taco
Chips 'n' Dip

House Salsa

Guacamole

Queso Blanco

Queso Royale
Sala Bar

ROMESCO

TOMATILLO

PICO DE GALLO

EL DEMONIO
Grande House Salad

House Salad
Tacos

Fried Chicken

Smoked Chicken

Steak

Pork Chorizo

Pork Carnitas
Sides

MEXICO CITY GRILLED CORN

REFRIED BLACK BEANS

COWBOY POT BEANS

SOUR CREAM
Enchiladas

Chicken & Corn

Three-cheese & Poblano

Beef Shortrib

Black Bean & Rice
Fajitas

Steak

Chicken

Shrimp

Combine any 2
SOUP & SALAD

TORTILLA SOUP

GRANDE CASA SALAD
QUESADILLAS

GRILLED CHICKEN RANCHERO

SPICY SHRIMP PICANTE

GRANDE QUESO
COMBOS

QUESADILLA

TACO
THE TACO TRUCK

BAJA FRIED FISH

SPICY GROUND BEEF

PORK CARNITAS

POLLO ASADO

RED CHILE STEAK

BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN

SHRIMP EN EL FUEGO

VEGAN MERCADO
SPECIALTIES

JUST-CRUSHED GUACAMOLE

CHILE CON QUESO

QUESO ROYALE

NACHOS EL REY

RICE & BEANS
DESSERT

CRISPY CHURROS
KIDS

CHEESE NACHOS

TACO NINO
COCKTAILS

FROZEN MOJITO

FROZEN MARGARITA
CLASSIC TASTES

HOUSE SALSA

GUACAMOLE

QUESO BLANCO

CLASSIC TASTES TRIO

QUESO ROYALE
HOUSE SPECIALTIES

MEXICAN PIZZA

GREEN CHILE RELLENO

HANGAR STEAK PINCHOS
SIZZLING FAJITAS

CHILI DE ARBOL-MARINATED STEAK

SCALLION AND CUMIN-MARINATED CHICKEN

HOUSEMADE CHORIZO

WOOD-GRILLED SHRIMP

COMBINE ANY TWO
SOUP & SALAD

GRANDE HOUSE SALAD

POSOLE
TACOS

SMOKED CHICKEN

STEAK

CHORIZO

VEGGIE

PORK CARNITAS
ADD ONS

guacamole

sour cream

queso blanco

sliced avocado

sunny-side up egg

extra corn torillas (3)

extra salad dressing

lettuce and tomato

sweet pickled veggies

lime slaw

marinated cabbage

onion and cilantro

cheese (Monterey Jack or queso fresco)

jalapenos (pickled fresh or grilled)
DESSERTS

FRIED APPLE PIE

ICE CREAM

Healthy Meal suggestions for The Original El Taco

Tastes

House Salsa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Guacamole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Queso Blanco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Queso Royale [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Classic Tastes Trio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
House Specialties

El Short Stack [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Green Chile Relleno [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hanger Steak Pinchos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tacos

Fried Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chorizo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Fish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork Carnitas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Chicken Liver [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mushroom [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chalkboard Taco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sizzling Fajitas

Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chorizo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Combine Any 2 [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Enchiladas

Chicken & Corn [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

3-Cheese & Poblano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shortrib [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Black Bean & Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Mexican Pizza

Veggie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soups & Salads

Posole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grande House Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Mexico City Grilled Corn [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Refried Black Beans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cowboy Pot Beans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wood-grilled Scallions [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Add Ons

Guacomole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sour Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Queso Blanco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sliced Avocado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sunny-Side Up Egg [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Extra Tortillas (3) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lettuce & Tomato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Pickled Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Pickled Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lime Slaw [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Marinated Cabbage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jalapenos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salad Dressing [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entrees

Chesee Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Black Bean & Steak Tostada [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Chicken Taco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Fish Taco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ground Beef Taco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Chips 'n' Dip

House Salsa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Guacamole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Queso Blanco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Queso Royale [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sala Bar

ROMESCO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

TOMATILLO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

PICO DE GALLO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

EL DEMONIO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Grande House Salad

House Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tacos

Fried Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork Chorizo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork Carnitas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

MEXICO CITY GRILLED CORN [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

REFRIED BLACK BEANS [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

COWBOY POT BEANS [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

SOUR CREAM [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Enchiladas

Chicken & Corn [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Three-cheese & Poblano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Shortrib [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Black Bean & Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Fajitas

Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Combine any 2 [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
SOUP & SALAD

TORTILLA SOUP [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

GRANDE CASA SALAD [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
QUESADILLAS

GRILLED CHICKEN RANCHERO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

SPICY SHRIMP PICANTE [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

GRANDE QUESO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
COMBOS

QUESADILLA [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

TACO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
THE TACO TRUCK

BAJA FRIED FISH [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

SPICY GROUND BEEF [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

PORK CARNITAS [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

POLLO ASADO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

RED CHILE STEAK [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

SHRIMP EN EL FUEGO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

VEGAN MERCADO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
SPECIALTIES

JUST-CRUSHED GUACAMOLE [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

CHILE CON QUESO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

QUESO ROYALE [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

NACHOS EL REY [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

RICE & BEANS [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
DESSERT

CRISPY CHURROS [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
KIDS

CHEESE NACHOS [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

TACO NINO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
COCKTAILS

FROZEN MOJITO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

FROZEN MARGARITA [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
CLASSIC TASTES

HOUSE SALSA [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

GUACAMOLE [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

QUESO BLANCO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

CLASSIC TASTES TRIO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

QUESO ROYALE [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
HOUSE SPECIALTIES

MEXICAN PIZZA [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

GREEN CHILE RELLENO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

HANGAR STEAK PINCHOS [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
SIZZLING FAJITAS

CHILI DE ARBOL-MARINATED STEAK [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

SCALLION AND CUMIN-MARINATED CHICKEN [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

HOUSEMADE CHORIZO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

WOOD-GRILLED SHRIMP [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

COMBINE ANY TWO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
SOUP & SALAD

GRANDE HOUSE SALAD [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

POSOLE [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
TACOS

SMOKED CHICKEN [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

STEAK [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

CHORIZO [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

VEGGIE [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

PORK CARNITAS [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
ADD ONS

guacamole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

sour cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

queso blanco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

sliced avocado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

sunny-side up egg [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

extra corn torillas (3) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

extra salad dressing [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

lettuce and tomato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

sweet pickled veggies [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

lime slaw [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

marinated cabbage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

onion and cilantro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

cheese (Monterey Jack or queso fresco) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

jalapenos (pickled fresh or grilled) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
DESSERTS

FRIED APPLE PIE [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

ICE CREAM [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Thomas W.

Great food for what you pay.
(5)
Heidi P.

I love this damn place. It's fun and delicious. I'm slightly biased because I know people who work there and for the company, so I'm only going to talk about the quality of food and atmosphere. Oh yea.. and parking. Parking is usually not great on the weekends. Their lot is smallish, but there is plenty of street parking off the side road. We often get the Tastes Trio app to start.. queso blanco, guac and salsa. The queso is perfecto.. I don't know how they do it or what's in it.. but I loooooove it. The chips have this awesome spice on them which leads me to believe by the end of the meal, I could still lick these chips clean and feel very good about myself still. The guac is very good.. very fresh. The salsa is good.. it's tasty, but not chunky which is how I prefer fresh salsa. All I really need are the chips and queso. The tacos. Ohhh the mothereffing tacos. The Fried Chicken taco is the absolute most delicious thing you'll put in your mouth, that comes in a flour tortilla. It's so simple.. it's not a large piece of chicken but once you've eaten it, you know it was the right size. Grilled corn, chili mayo, cotija cheese and cilantro. Fried Fish and Pork Carnitas taco make the top three. The steak fajitas are great.. Just a perfect, little, savory, delicious sizzling dish of meat, green and red peppers and onions. Got the Cowboy pot beans once, thinking it'd be a substitute for refried beans.. and it wasn't quite what I expected. Drinks, at least the vodka cranberry, are made well.. Not strong nor weak. The atmosphere overall is super fun. It's not your traditional Mexican joint with sombreros and mariachi bands. It's got a little bit of a hipster vibe with some family friendliness.. with luchadores and Frida on the wall among other fun visuals. Don't forget to check your wooden tokens when they spin the prize wheel each hour on the hour. Each token has a number that correlates with a prize on the wheel.. and if your number gets called.. guess what! WINNAAAH! Could be a pitcher of beer, a free queso appetizer, a gift card.. etc. Sometimes I wish they had typical rice and beans sides that automatically come with dishes at other Mexican restaurants.. you end up realizing they're not missed. Cost-wise, you could be paying a bit more than your local Mexican joint.. but if you're on a budget, consider the awesome tacos, which are all $2.95-$4.25. It just depends upon how crazy you get with trying each different type... If you've gotten an app as well, just start off with two tacos and see how you feel. You may be surprised at how satisfied you are despite their smaller size. It's worth mentioning a previous review I wrote a week or two ago about another "taco" place.. The tacos at this "other" place are twice the size and more expensive, but half the quality, if that, and even less of a taste-competitor. El Taco a little off the beaten VaHi path (not close to the true center of VaHi) and a bit of a drive from the highway, but very worth it.
(5)
Jess B.

I had a fried chicken taco and a veggie taco- both were alright. Nothing amazing. I feel like when this place first opened the food had more effort to it. Also I think the chips are just way over seasoned. My boyfriend had the shrimp fajitas and I think he made the better dinner choice- they are very skimpy with the sides for the fajitas though. Good flavored margaritas.
(3)
Kelsey G.

I'll just start off by saying that I love mexican food. I'm from Texas, so I'm a true lover of Tex-Mex. I was excited about visiting this place because so many people had raved about it. Eh- unfortunately it wasn't too impressive- It was good, but nothing worth raving about. 1. Service - The service was amazing- our waiter got our large table everything we needed quickly and split up our complicated checks correctly without any problem. He earned this place the extra star. 2. Drinks - I started with a frozen Mojito- which I've never had before and it was delicious. If you've never had it that way, it's worth a shot. I went back to my typical "on-the-rocks" Mojito after that, but it was a nice change of pace. 3. Appetizers - Several of the people I was with got the chips and guacamole, so I gave that a try. It was pretty good, but it's pretty hard to mess that up. ;) It was very fresh and had plenty of flavor and the chips were perfectly crisp and salty. 4. Dinner - I split the Mexican Pizza with a friend of mine and it was quite large, so I recommend sharing it with someone. We still didn't eat the whole thing. It was decent, but it didn't have too much flavor. There was almost too much lettuce and not enough "substance" to eat. I went over the the salsa bar (which was AMAZING by the way) and covered my part of the pizza with the tomatillo salsa- mmmmmm. That gave it the extra flavor it was missing. 5. Atmosphere -The dining room was pretty busy, but then again it was a Saturday night. We had a birthday party to go to near by and asked our waiter about overnight parking. They allow it, but make sure you get a parking pass. The waiter said they can get a little tow-happy with people that don't get the pass. Overall, it was a decent but very forgettable meal. It was similar to a Tin Lizzy's or Verde, but to me it just didn't pack a flavor punch that I was looking for. Thank goodness for the salsa bar- they don't tell you about it, so make sure you don't forget it's there!
(3)
M H.

I am obsessed with the queso. I am obsessed with the margaritas as well. This place does not disappoint.
(5)
Michael E.

The atmosphere of El Taco is positively wonderful. The servers really care and have always been attentive to my groups' needs. In my book, great service is a guarantee at El Taco. That said, the food leaves something to be desired. It's a little greasy for my tastes. I keep coming back to the Short Stack, which I'm guessing is one of the greasier items on the menu. My experience with the food has not been great (hence the three stars).
(3)
Jeff H.

This place is outstanding! The staff and managers know how to run a restaurant. We live down the street and El Taco has been a staple in our restaurant rotation. I always recommend the specials - the guys in the kitchen know how to whip up seasonal dishes and they always impress. Thursday evening they have a late night nacho option that's worth the wait. The Mexican pizza is a nice option on the menu. My favorite is the short stack! Wow - it's dinner and breakfast in a small bowl. Enjoy!
(5)
Keith F.

This place is very busy most of the time and in my opinion for good reason. The service tonight was top notch. Our group of 12 had a 7:30 reservation and we were seated at 7:32 so no problem there. A few things to take note of. You don't automatically get chips and salsa. Do yourself a favor and order the queso and then you can get your chip fix and a wide range of salsa from the salsa bar. My favorite was the green. The diablo mango had a nice punch as well. My appetizer order of guacamole was decent tasting but it was pretty small in size considering the price. The shrimp fajitas I ordered were delicious. I should've taken a picture of them but was hungry and just started tearing into them. My only complaint with them was that the side of cheese it came with was the size of a thimble and by my second one I was out... I would recommend this place and will come back at some point. As a side note the Mexican pizza looked really good.
(4)
Jeff T.

Love El Taco! Food is always fresh and delicious, & the salsa bar rocks! The pork belly taco is absolutely one if the best tacos I've ever had, I would come here even more often if it was a regular menu item. I just wish they were open for lunch Mon. - Fri.
(5)
Audrey F.

Definitely a fan of El Taco!! It is a great addition to the between Highlands and Morningside strip of N. Highland. I love the outdoor patio where you can sit and watch the bustle on North Highland. There is even a outdoor TV so you can watch whatever game is on, while eating Mexican food, while outside...what more could you want on a great fall day? You can also easily tie your dog to the patio fence if you have them with you. The food here is great - its not my absolute favorite Mexican place in Atlanta, but it is definitely yummy. The fried fish and fried chicken tacos are favorites. I'm not a huge fan of the carnitas taco (I've had better), its a bit bland....so I'd opt for one of the many other taco options. One of my only gripes is that chips and salsa are not complimentary. Granted they are only like $2, but its always a nice touch to have them included.
(4)
Kelly E.

This place is so yummy. This place gets all of my love for tacos. The atmostphere is great and the servers are friendly. Very affordable as well.
(4)
Max P.

We've been here quite a few times and it hasn't failed us yet. Wonderful atmosphere, delicious food and great prices. Highly recommend the classic tastes trio for an appetizer. Their chips are fantastic! As far as tacos go, the fried chicken taco and the chorizo taco are super tasty.
(5)
Courtny M.

What a cute, yummy place! The atmosphere is fun & low key & trendy. At the recommendationof our server we had the smoked chicken tacos and they were delicious. The cheese sauce was spicy with some yummy chorizo mixed in...and all together it was very affordable! The most fun thing about this place is on the hour they spin the wheel & you have a chance for free chips & salsa! Great choice for affordable pleasant meal
(5)
Chris C.

Awesome! All awesome! Food, service, margaritas...again bloody awesome! Recommend the chorizo tacos and the queso royale.
(4)
Alison R.

Love el taco!! Of course Mexican pizza is amazing but also love the smoked chicken taco with fried jalapeÃ±os! Yum!! Got cheese enchiladas for the first time with the Oklahoma beef chili sauce (I think that's what it's called). OMG I will dream about that. Holy cow delicious. Also started with queso royale which was fantastic. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Brittany P.

I love this place! My sister and I had been painting. We looked like crap, and we were served and treated fantastically! The food was amazing! Again, the servers were awesome!
(5)
Kimberly F.

The Original El Taco is my good to Mexican joint. Every single experience I have ever had there as been fabulous! I want last night with a group of girl friends and we enjoyed every plate that came to our table. Highlights: Hanger Steak Pichos Made in casa Cod Fritters Chicken corn enchiladas Classic queso dip Mexican Corn Grapefruit juice Margarita (forgot the fancy name for it) My normal go-to item are the fried fish tacos with slaw and a side of the Mexican style corn (which I have never had at any other Mexican restaurant). I love it so much that I rarely venture away from it, but last night I want out on a limb and got the chicken corn enchiladas with salsa verde, Delicious decision! They were seasoned just perfectly and the portion was a reasonable portion for one person. They take pride in the made from scratch menu items and I appreciate that. Also they had a great margarita on the menu that has grapefruit juice in it. I love margaritas but sometimes they can be too sweet. This Margarita still has the backbone flavors of a good Margarita but mixed with grapefruit juice which cuts the sweetness. Excellent creation! This is one I will copy and take home to my own kitchen. Gracias El Taco for another Scrumptious meal!!!
(5)
Julie S.

Great place for drinks & dinner. Extremely fun for big groups! Both times I've gone it has been with over 10 people and the staff is very friendly and accomodating.
(3)
J D.

Love this place. Great for Celiacs with a pretty decent GF offering. Come here a lot, big fan. Love the mushroom tacos, guacamole, and the mexican corn. Only complaint is they took the Sloppy Jose off the menu. And they are open later than most places in the area!
(5)
Alex C.

This is my go-to spot for Mexican food in Atlanta! The food is really unique, the atmosphere is fun and everything I've tried on the menu has been awesome. I don't usually love margs, but I'm hooked on their skinny margarita. Great place for parties or for drinking before going out in the highlands - I've celebrated my birthday here with friends two years a in a row! Nacho Night on Thursdays is the best - you get a little sheet where you fill out exactly what you want on your nachos...you get so much food for a cheap price and they're SO good. Plus there's $2 beers and $4 house margs on Thursdays too.
(5)
Christina A.

LOL. I searched "El Taco" and this place turned up as "The Original El Taco." Seriously? You want to sell yourself as "The Original" El Taco over all the other El Taco's on Buford Hwy? haha. Anyway. I've been here several times after it first opened, but I now avoid this place at all costs! My review for this place is quite long overdue, but since I just opened up a Yelp account, I figured I'd still give my review. I give this place 2 stars, because quite honestly, the food is pretty decent. Also, the salsa bar is a plus. However, be prepared for nonchalant, rude, and pretentious staff at this place. I went with a friend a while back, and we were sharing a mexican pizza when all of a sudden, an ANT crawled out from underneath the lettuce on our pizza. We immediately told our server, who took the remainder of the pizza away without saying anything. This was actually the first time I've ever dealt with an insect in my food, but I would imagine that the server will come back to talk to you about the situation and either 1) offer to bring out a fresh order of that same item, or 2) offer to take that off your tab. He never came back to ask us what he could do about the situation, nor did he even come back to apologize. At that point, we just assumed he was bringing out another pizza. The manager then showed up to ask about what happened, and she was simply defensive about it and said the exterminator had just been there that day. All we really wanted to hear was "I'm so sorry, how can we make your experience better at this point?" but we saw that she was pretty embarrassed so we acknowledged and affirmed her by saying that we agree this is not the norm for El Taco. However, still no "sorry." After waiting another 10 minutes, the server brought us our check instead of what we thought would be another pizza. My friend and I were speechless. We flagged our server and we asked him if another pizza was on its way out. In a matter-of-fact tone, he said, "Um, why would you think that?" He proceeded to tell us, "Well, you guys were pretty much finished with the pizza anyway." Granted, we were on our 5th slice of pizza out of the 8 total slices when the ant crawled out, but shouldn't we have every right to finish our meal?! Why did we feel like WE were being a nuisance to them, when we were the patrons to this restaurant?! Another 15 minutes later, the manager reluctantly brought us another pizza and said, "So is this what you guys want?" We paid and left with the worst taste in our mouths. I got home and quickly emailed the Fifth Group Dir. of Operations and got a more apologetic response than from the staff at El Taco. After several exchanges, including him talking directly with the manager and our server, he concluded that there was a communication breakdown between the manager and our server, and expressed that maybe we could come back and give them another chance. He also wrote, "When you do, please give me a call so that I can make a reservation for you. I'd like to personally ensure that your next visit exceeds both of our expectations." Furthermore, he asked if I'd be willing to talk to the manager about the situation, which I was fine with. She was very apologetic by then and I felt it was pretty genuine. She also really wanted us to give them another chance. So, as stupid as it sounds, several weeks later my friend and I decided we would give them another shot. We also let the Dir. of Operations know that we were giving El Taco one more shot. (It's also important to note that I specifically said I did not want free meals as our compensation, so we were not going there again just for a free meal, but to see if we would really get better service that "exceeds...our expectations.") The manager was on vacay that week so we didn't get a chance to talk to her again, but we were told to ask for the gen. manager, since he was also privy to the whole situation. The meal was fine, but like I said, the food is honestly pretty decent and it was never the issue. The service was fine this time around, but not extraordinary. When we asked for the general manager just to let him know that we actually came by, he seemed very nonchalant, and it didn't seem to make a difference that we were actually giving them another chance. It almost seemed like a joke to him. That night, he emailed me again saying how it was "a pleasure meeting you" and to let him know how he "could be of assistance." Really, at that point, after bending over backwards and giving El Taco staff the benefit of the doubt, it was very obvious they just don't really care about customer satisfaction. They are all very good at saying the right things to appease the customer, but in reality, they don't give a damn. After having told all of my friends about the incident, no one I know goes there anymore. We stick to Taqueria del Sol, Takorea, or the truly original El Taco's on Buford Hwy
(2)
Daddy D.

Really good guac, some specialty margaritas, and the fried chicken tenders for the tacos is insane. Get it on the salad for a special 'healthy' salad!
(4)
Jennifer N.

I am so glad they brought back the smoked chicken! I also love the frozen mojitos. Great place to grab lunch or dinner with a group of friends. They have fast service, good food, and good drinks. The spin the wheel for prizes is fun as well. I won a $10 gift card the last visit! I like the tacos and the mexican pizza. Guac and cheese dip are good as well. The salsa bar has a few good salsas. Overall, not bad for a tex-mex establishment.
(4)
Harold J.

Food: Outstanding! Most Mexican cuisine places have a large average menu. This place sticks to a smaller menu that delivers excellent food no matter what you order. The ingredients are fresh and the salsa bar is simple and straight forward. I love the fact that you can try a number of different items. Service: From the host to the waiter, outstanding attentiveness and professionalism. Environment: We sat outside, for good measure, it's really loud inside. Other than that the environment is fun and comfortable. We look forward to dining with them again.
(5)
Dave K.

El Taco is the best restaurant in Virginia Highlands. It's the place to go for modern latin-inspired food and drinks, always fresh and the service is always helpful. The bar staff is friendly and had a good memory. All around, great. They keep the menu simple, but it keeps all the choices good. The steak taco is the star of the menu, the mushroom taco second (if you like mushrooms, it's killer). There's always a board of delicious specials, as well. Dos XX on draft along with many other choices. The atmosphere is lively - they do an hourly number raffle where you can win various comps for immediate use or a rain check. TVs showing sports. A comfortable patio with people having a good time. Just go.
(5)
John M.

This place gives Tacolu in Jacksonville a serious run for the money! I had the fried chicken taco and it was UNBELIEVABLE! Second only to the bangin' shrimp taco at Tacolu. I also had the chorizo taco (by mistake, I actually ordered the carnitas) and it was really good and I got the carne asada as well and that was the third best. But they were all awesome. LOVED the atmosphere. Great place for kids (my three year old loves Tacolu, so she'd love this place). After 9, the families clear out and it's a great place for people without kids to eat, drink and have fun.
(5)
Andrew A.

Went to The Original El Taco tonight with my wife and really enjoyed it. My wife and I laughed because we got there around 7:30 right as family night was transitioning into the younger, adult crowd. We really enjoyed the salsa and the chips - that included a seasoning similar to Tin Lizzy's chips. My wife had gazpacho and the fish and veggie tacos. She really enjoyed both of them. I had the fried chicken and the carnitas tacos. Both were over-flowing the tortillas and were full of flavor. And while we didn't win a prize when the wheel was spun, we certainly enjoyed it and will be going back soon.
(4)
Steph S.

My boyfriend and I hosted a group of 20 people for our birthday dinner at El Taco last night. We made reservations several weeks in advance to make sure they could accommodate our large group (esp. on a Saturday night). From that first phone call, and the several other calls leading up to the event (to update final #s of people attending, ask questions about balloon/decoration policies, etc.), I truly was so impressed with the staff at the restaurant. I spoke w both Kit and Katie several times and they were SO patient as #s fluctuated, gracious and easy to work with. They had our table ready on time, were well prepared for such a larger group and (most importantly to me), made us feel welcomed and appreciated as customers. Beyond the great customer service upfront, a few other strong points from the night: -Our waiter was on his A-game (I never waited more than 5 mins for a drink refill and all orders showed up complete and accurate) -Our food was delicious (I loved the queso royale and the chorizo taco!) -Drinks were plentiful with a good selection to choose from (though the margs were a little weak) I've only written 1-2 Yelp reviews before, but it was important that I write one for El Taco as a token of my appreciation for how accommodating they were to us last night! Definitely keep this place in mind for good food, a lively night of dining and for large groups!
(5)
Leigh N.

Came here Saturday night. Had smoked chicken taco and chorizo taco, plus queso. All pretty tasty, especially the queso. The chips were seasoned nicely. I like that they have a salsa bar with a variety of options - most of the sauces were good. The ambiance was decent, lighting and decor was good but it was quite noisy inside. Was a little less so outside. Had a frozen mojito, was pretty decent. The whole win-a-free-taco / wheel spin concept is fun, but they should do it more often throughout the evening. Most people were dressed up, I guess that's how it is on a Saturday night in the Highlands. Parking can be tricky so bring your walking shoes!
(3)
Christy B.

Perfect for Saturday lunch, their ala carte taco menu allows you to build the right-size meal for you. Two tacos and a side (I had the refried black beans, yum!) = good meal portion for your average stomach. The coconut flan for dessert was sensational!! My hubs and I are still talking about it weeks later. If you've glanced at the other reviews, you've seen mention of the fried chicken taco, and let me tell you, it's as good as you hope it will be. The atmosphere is neat; it fits into the purposefully quirky neighborhood of VA Highland with the murals inside and wrought iron and wooden walls on the outside. There are a good number of tables outside (10-15) so that lots of people can fit when the weather is nice. Only con: the host greeted us with a look up-and-down and "I assume you won't be needing the gluten-free menu?" Pfft! It's a taco bar, y'all!
(4)
Ashleigh P.

I really wanted to like this place. I hadn't been back here since it changed to the Original El Taco... Is there a fake one? When you sit down they give you a numbered token. One the top of every hour they spin a wheel by the bar. If you are holding the token that matches the winning number you win something off the menu, their choice. It adds a bit of fun to it. But I had to come for a thing about a thing... And Atlanta Eats was doing something with the lottery there, a "Dinner's On Us" promotional that El Taco was supporting by giving away a free queso or margarita to anyone who mentioned it. I got the queso (good choice) my SO got the margarita ( I say we tied on who made the better choice... but he says I won, which isn't completely true, cause I shared) The chips are thin and crispy and just salted enough. They have a salsa bar that has more than just salsa, the cabbage is excellent and the tomatillo salsa was my favorite. But makes me think Moe's, even thought the salsas are so much better. There were a few things I couldn't try due to my Bell Pepper allergy, but whatevs. I had the El Short Stack because I had heard good things... well, when you serve an egg on something, shouldn't the white be completely cooked? I was able to remove the raw parts, but ewwww. It had good flavor and a hangover cure quality to it, but not something I would come back for. Our waitress was friendly and helpful and a little condescending... in that way that they can be. I don't think we will be back. #17/365 #17/100
(3)
Erin C.

BEST FRIED CHICKEN TACOS IN THE CITY!!! Also, the frozen mojitos are GREAT!!! I try to order fried chicken tacos at other places, and they just don't compare.
(5)
V L.

El Taco is one of my favorite spots in the city! I love the atmosphere, food, drinks and service. I'm not a big mojito fan but Kit had me try their frozen mojito and it was truly amazing and done right! I love the corn and chicken enchiladas, fried chicken tacos and the queso royale will change your life. I love the fifth group restaurants! I'm usually here at least once every 2 weeks! If you haven't tried it you definitely should, you'll become a regular too!!!
(5)
Max M.

Finally, a taqueria in ATL gets it perfectly right. The tacos here are AMAZING! The flavor combinations are to die for. I ordered the smoked chicken, steak, chorizo, and chicken liver tacos. Ironically, my buddy desired four other tacos that were totally different from mine, so i got to try those too. Even a taco as simple as a chicken taco had the most amazing flavors. And they all came out at the perfect temperature. The only unusual taco they had on the main menu was the chicken liver taco. I took a chance by getting that one, but it was perfection. I didn't read the ingredients closely enough, so the collards in the taco were such an amazing and pleasant surprise. Man... everything was just fantastic. The salsa bar was fantastic. So was the guacamole. The service was great too. The manager even came out and spoke to us. This place goes at the top of my list as one of my favorite go-to restaurants in Atlanta.
(5)
Liz K.

I heart el taco. This place is fun and is inviting with open arms! The lime tortilla chips are amazing. A little bit of saltyness and a tang of lime. The guac is so good, I just want to keep ordering and ordering. The tacos were delicioso. I mean, you can't really go wrong there. Hot torillas, chopped up meats/veggies/herbs and BAM there you go. The margaritas just keep coming! Servers are fun and are willing to get to know you while you are there. Great environment! Don't forget about the salsa bar either!
(4)
Vivian E.

Excellent food and service. Perfect for families with little kids. The staff are patient and knowledgable. Would recommend to everyone!
(5)
Gillian N.

I'll get a hankering for the Taco quite often, and there's a reason. This place rocks. Get your wheel of taco tokens - free stuff rocks. They spin on the hour. I've never won in like 5 years, but there's always next time! I always sit at the bar - stick with what you know, amiright? Danny is a great bartender - super friendly and attentive with a sarcastic sense of humor. He also makes great cocktails. They upgraded the barstools about a year or two ago, so if you haven't been in a while and remember those stupid-heavy and super-uncomfy tree stumps, they are gone. Also, ladies - purse hooks. Winning. Fried chicken taco, smoked chicken taco, and anything pork will not disappoint. Guacamole is good, but I ask for no radish, because seriously, what is a radish doing there? (I HATE radishes) Queso is also pretty good, but nothing extraordinary. If you don't like sweet margaritas, don't order a house marg plain. Ask for it with a splash of club soda or some extra limes. Even the skinny marg is pretty sweet - they are good, but sweet is just not my thing with tequila, so I try to tone it down. The frozen mojitos, or FroMos, are absolutely awesome in the summer. They are also pretty sweet, but not too bad, and let's be real - it's basically a grown-up slushy - sweet is the M.O. Great offering in the Highlands that offers up something different from the other spots. Oh, and free parking in a lot. Take that, Park Atlanta!
(5)
Randy G.

I'm so glad that Tim Lizzy opened by Emory so I can skip El Taco. GET Better beer list.
(2)
Todd B.

I read the reviews on this place before I went. Everyone raved about the fried chicken tacos, so that's what I got the first time I went. They are amazing. I've been back a couple times and I can't order anything else because I love them so much. The fried chicken tacos are "as good as it gets" so that gives them 5 stars. If you tell me 5 stars is too much for this place because you don't like something you had there, I'll tell you "don't order it." I'll tell you to "get the fried chicken tacos". If you tell me you don't like the fried chicken tacos, I'll tell you "You're crazy."
(5)
M V.

Was good when it opened. Tired of the menu. Nothing ever changes here.
(3)
Mike J.

Nothing to brag about here - stale chips and margaritas that taste like orange juice. There is too much good Mexican in Atlanta to waste time here.
(2)
Janet B.

The Original El Taco-- it just fills you up with the anticipation that you are about to experience something very authentic, no? Seeing that the only credential behind my Mexican authenticity detector comes from one spring break spent in Cancun and many nights spent at cheap Mexican restaurants, I don't know how authentic the foods are... but I CAN tell you, if there's a place in the world where the local food tastes like that of TOET, please shoot me a message, so I can start packing. First off, the house salsa bar offers 4 or so different kinds of salsa and pico de gallo. It's out of this world. Seriously, the best salsas ever. They are so incredibly fresh and flavorful- a ton of cilantro and spice and sweetness. There's one with peanut sauce that's really interesting and tasty. I made 2 trips back to fill up the plastic cups with these delicious goodness. The salsa that came with chips and salsa was just regular salsa, so make sure to check out the salsa bar. Then the steak tacos. Seriously, what is going on!? Dio mio! The strips of steak are so juicy and tender and seasoned to perfection. The fish taco had its own merits but definitely overshadowed by the steak taco. They of course have a ton of other options on the menu, all delicious. There's a good selection of beers and drinks to accompany these amazing foods, though not many beers on tap. I got caipirinha, a Brazilian drink that I haven't had in a while, and it was alright, not too strong. My boyfriend got a beer and a gin and tonic. I don't remember the decor too well-- it was pretty chill and homey, a type of place where groups of friends go to shoot the shit and enjoy awesome Mexican food. If you are having a drink or two with appetizers or an entree, the bill can easily add up to $20-$25 per person, so this place isn't exactly a cheap neighborhood Mexican restaurant. But MAN, is it good. I could eat their salsa and pico de gallo by the tub.
(5)
Amy F.

We had not been to El Taco since it changed hands and joined 5th Group. We started with the lime-salted corn chips and house salsa. Paying for chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant is one of my pet peeves, but how can you pass up chips and salsa?! I also found it odd that although there is a nice salsa bar in back, you can't get the "house salsa", which I liked a lot, unless you order the chips. I enjoyed trying the various salsas available at the bar but would like to see slightly larger cup size available so the salsas could be more easily dipped and shared. I ordered two tacos (fried chicken and roasted chicken) and the side of corn. The corn dish and the fried chicken taco were my favorites. Something about the chili-lime mayo on the corn really adds a wonderful flavor. Calvin enjoyed his short stack with pork also. The short stack includes open-faced corn tortillas, red and green chili sauces, refried beans, Mexican cheeses, sunny-side-up egg plus the optional pork. El Taco has a varied and interesting menu and it would be fun to try some of the other items like the fajitas, the Mexican pizzas or the shrimp del diablo.
(3)
Andrew D.

Stopped by here for the first time last night. At first i was a bit dismayed with the charge for chips and salsa. I then noted the Salsa Bar and was very impressed and thus understood that the charge was understandable. An assortment of fresh salsas created me. Some were spicy, some sweet, some roasted. Very nice. I am a big sauce guy. Two thumbs up, I payed for the chips, no problem given this Salsa effort. On to the tacos. I am a taco expert having lived in NY,L.A. and Texas. Too add to that I have dined on some very authentic street food in Mexico City and Tijuana. We tried fish, buttermilk chicken, steak, chorizo and carnitas. The chorizo was interesting. it was large chunks of sausage and strips of roasted green chilies peppers. I was not impressed with the sausage per say, but the roasted pepper was a very nice touch and worked with salsa that was added. As for the Fish Taco, it was good but I really have a hard time signing off on Fish Tacos outside of the West Coast. The Steak Taco was good, with large chunks of steak. That said, it could have used more flavor. The Buttermilk Chicken Taco was great. Original Southern Spin to a Taco. I will buy it, well done! My favorite hands down was the Carnitas Taco. This was VERY GOOD, full of marinated flavor that worked oh so well with the minced onions. Oh man, SO GOOD. I will be back to El Taco to have both of these again! I will also be sure to try the Shrimp Civiche. If any from El Taco reads this, please add Horchata to drink menu. Many families on this Sunday afternoon. Looks like a legit place to bring your young kids on the weekend. Most tables in the joint had kids under 3 years old. I presume the crowd is different on a Friday night, but on the weekends it looks like a nice neighborhood hangout for young families. I will be back.
(4)
Lena C.

Creamy-melty-spicy-meaty-cheesy-wonderfulness translates into Queso Royale. The chorizo, peppers, and onions prove to create a perfect dip! The tacos are enormous, so after an appetizer like the Queso Royale, I'd only order one fish taco next time. Thankfully, that extra red chili steak taco came in handy between bars later that night! Plus, I love games that involve spinning wheels. When you are seated you receive what I now call "taco tokens". The bartender spins the wheel and someone receives something free every hour on the hour! It was a tequila shot and I did not win, but I like the idea.
(4)
Ruth B.

This was one of my all time favorite places when I lived in Atlanta. It's definitely not authentic mexican food, so you have to enjoy it for what it is. It has a very fun atmosphere and a good bar to hang out at while you wait for a table. They are often very generous with the prizes from the wheel. For example, one time when I was there someone at my table won a free shot of tequila and they gave everyone at our table a free shot. I highly recommend the fried chicken taco. The sweet corn it comes with is to die for. I also love the grilled chicken taco and their queso.
(5)
Lisa P.

We started with the classic tastes trio app, which consisted of a salsa, queso and fresh guacamole and lime salted chips. I was looking forward to trying the chips but was a little disappointed that I didn't get a hint of lime. I love queso like fish love water but I really enjoyed their guacamole. The guacamole will definitley be ordered when I return. As an avid user of Stevia I ordered an unsweet tea but was informed by our server they only served sweet. The sweet tea had a taste that I can't put my finger on but I didn't care for it and ordered a Coke to replace it. All was good. I was told by my dad that the trout taco he ordered was very good but I passed on sampling it, I was enjoying my cheese enchiladas, which I had with their tomatillo sauce too much to try anything else. Service: Great. We were greeted with who I assume was the manager. He inquired if this was our first visit ( it was) and told us the way the restaurant worked. We received two wooden coins that would be used when they called out numbers (similar to bingo) once every hour and informed us the winning numbers could win anything from food to beer to gift certificates. And lastly, they have a salsa bar which also had pickled vegetables and a slaw. There were several (around 7 or 8) salsas so there was a variety to choose from. I look forward to returning.
(4)
Carter C.

It has been a long time since I last ate at El Taco, but I went Saturday night for drinks. The frozen mojito is incredible and doesn't skimp on alcohol portion. Two drinks was enough for me. I'll go back just for the mojito. Moreso than the drinks, I will go back for the service. The bartenders were cool guys who know how to endear themselves to the customer. I'm sure the food is great, but I'll be back at El Taco simply for atmosphere, service, and that amazing mojito.
(5)
Deana M.

This place was AWESOME. Everything was fantastic...from the atmosphere (very low key), to the different take on the traditional Mexican taco, to their fantastic guacamole and salsa bar! The price was reasonable and our server was friendly and attentive. We'll be back!
(5)
Lindsay H.

Can't beat the porch and margaritas, but not a fan of the food (with the exception of the salsa, guac and cheese dip--YUM!!). Super family friendly! All around nice place!
(3)
D L.

Went for first time on Tuesday. Good service. Good, lively atmosphere. For four people we paid $44, which I think is a pretty good meal. Tacos: - Chorizo - Fried Chicken - Grilled Chicken - Red Chile Steak - ... something else I recommend you order the guacamole dip, fried chicken taco, and red chile steak taco. Good stuff.
(3)
Ben M.

Love it. I eat there once a week. Usually get El Short Stack with grilled chicken and a side if corn.
(5)
Brian K.

Fifth Group restaurants are normally pretty good, but unfortunately I simply don't understand people's infatuation with this place. Food: El Taco offers a variety of traditional Mexican fare. However, the food is bland, lacks innovation, and is poorly presented. They do have a condiment bar though with a few novel options, so be sure to take a look before settling for what's been served with your dinner. The margaritas were strong, but the variety was far more limited than I'd expected. Service: I've been here twice and the service has been quick and friendly on both occasions. Atmosphere: This place is typically packed, especially on the weekends. Expect to wait at least 25 minutes on a good day. They do have a very lively bar, so get a drink and the time will go by quicker. Price: Inexpensive. Tacos are around $3 each and entrees are in the $8 to $12 range. Other: El Taco does have an outdoor patio, which overlooks North Highland. They also have a prize wheel of sorts that they spin every hour. Upon entry, you're given a wood token with a number on it - if the wheel lands on your number, you win a prize (bar tab, gift certificate, etc.)
(2)
Megi G.

I've tired good and bad things here, but overall I enjoy the atmosphere and the service, so I'm definitely a fan!
(4)
Valerie N.

I went here for a Saturday lunch and thought it was pretty good... What's Great -- Margaritas are super good! Love my Texas margarita, which was like a mimosa, just with tequila instead of champagne - perfect with huevos rancheros! -- Salsa bar with spicy pickled veggies. YUM. -- They recognized the birthday girl with us with a birthday shot - yay! -- Love the spin-the-wheel and get a prize idea. Fab. -- Friendly servers -- People raved over the steak tacos, which looked tasty! What's Not So Great... -- Personally, I thought the food was bland. I think I used half a bottle of Cholula to spice up my huevos. I think I just ultimately prefer the more authentic Mexican restaurants (i.e. I'm not a Chipotle or Moe's fan whatsoever) -- You have to pay for chips and salsa. What???? This is definitely a great place for groups, for drinks, or for sitting outside on a sunny afternoon watching the crowds go by on Highland. I definitely think this place is better for atmosphere and a fun night out than it is for the food... I'd also mention that the lunch menu is drastically different than the regular dinner menu. Maybe dinner is better? I'd suggest it would be worth a try!
(3)
Erin M.

I normally hate going to "out to dinner" birthday parties, but our server Paige changed my mind about that. She deserves a raise. It's nice to have a quasi-Mexican place that has corn tortillas for the gluten challenged. I'm so in love with their pork carnita tacos. Mmm mm mm. My one complaint is that it's pricey. $3 for a taco? Really? Eh, oh well. With service like Paige, how can you say no to going to El Taco. I'll definitely be back... but hopefully someone else will be buying. ;)
(4)
Wendy G.

This review is also info for the Mi Casa Su Casa Monthly events. When traveling overseas, one of my favorite traditions I see at restaurants from Italy to Belgium is the practice of family style dining. Big long tables filled with strangers, enjoying great food and drinks together and leaving with new friends. The Original El Taco and Executive Chef Scott Keefer has brought back this awesome tradition with Mi Casa Su Casa, a monthly family dining event for $30. Each month features a new theme and menu of delish eats. The first one is "Run for the Border" on Tues 3/20 at 6:30pm and features dishes inspired by Southern California - a new trend called Baja-Med. All the dishes are so good, you'll feel like you're right eating next to the ocean with Coastal Shellfish 'Stew', Grilled Smoked Oysters, Avocado and Hearts of Palm Salad, and Wood-Grilled Hangar Steak Pinchos. Sip a tasty Moroccan Mule while you indulge in these amazing flavors! Upcoming events: Tues 6/19 - Tequila Cooks! - Assortment of dishes that use Mexico's favorite export as a flavor component. Tues 7/17 - Ay Ay Ay -The great late-night foods of sobering up after a night of clubbing in Mexico City. (Street food!) Tues 8/21 - Sin Horquilla Requerido (No Fork Required) - Exploring the tastiest and most fun hand-held foods from Mexican cuisine. Tues 9/18 - Puebla: Viva la Alemanes - Tastes from the home of the VW Beetle and of Mexican dishes with a German influence. Tues 10/23 - A la Mercado - Dishes featuring uniquely Mexican market ingredients like epazote, cactus, cuitlacoche, jicama, agave and more. Tues 11/27 - Tex-Mex - Original, authentic dishes that have since become Americanized classics. You can buy tix online or via phone, lots of parking behind the restaurant and across the street.
(4)
Steven R.

As a follow up to my last review, I thought I should give an update on the situation. The restaurant manager, Katie, saw my review on here regarding the added tip. The mistake has been remedied and a refund placed on my credit card. This may well have been a mistake and the restaurant has satisfied me that is is an isolated incident. Hats off to Katie for taking an interest in this matter.
(4)
James R.

Love El Taco. Been coming here for years. My only grip is the took the Caesar salad off the menu. PLEASE bring it back!?
(4)
Bill B.

This place is cool good vibes fish tacos are off the chain good margaritas like the location will be back, hell yes !!
(5)
Michele K.

I'm a huge mexican food fan, and it just doesn't get any better than this. Going to El Taco literally makes my week. Wish I could go every week. Try the Nacho Night on Thursdays!!
(5)
Rick F.

I've read many of the reviews, my experience was really good! Everyone from the hostess to the busboy and server were very friendly and helpful. We asked each person what is the best thing on the menu each person had a different item that was there favorite. So we ordered the Guacamole appetizer with a side order of Salsa, Guacamole was excellent, Salsa was not! Chips were hot, fresh and the lime salt was a great addition. They need to kill the Salsa Bar it looked ridiculous, small and dirty, if you can't do it right don't do it at all! Plus the choices were strange and the taste was awful. Pork, Fried Chicken and Steak were all great but the Pork one is my favorite! The corn side dish was highly recommended, now we know why! Fantastic! I'm not a big fan of the hourly Bingo-style game.
(4)
Will P.

Let me be clear: I hate Mexican food. With a passion. Always have, and probably always will. BUT -- and it's a big one -- this joint is jumpin', and I loved it! I'd go on a weekend night when it's buzzing in there with frenetic energy, and they're spinning the freebie wheel. I had a kick-ass margarita and some tasty soft tacos. make sure to get guacamole for the table, too, because it's some of the best I've had. Finally, I implore you: do NOT leave this restaurant without having the Mexico City Grilled Corn in lime mayo side dish. OMG - it is slap-yo-mama-twice good. They list it as a side, but order it with some chips for a starter and I guarantee you'll write later and thank me. :) I had a blast here, and finally... a place where I can enjoy Mexican (to the extent possible for me).
(3)
Jake V.

Great tacos! I'm usually not very impressed by 'dressed-up' mexican places but El Taco is worth the extra few bucks and worth the hype. The fried chicken taco is unbelievable!
(4)
Lydia L.

I wasn't blown away by this taco joint. I do think that it's a great place to gather in VA-Highland, I love the wheel of taco concept- it gets people excited to be there, and the bar staff is attentive. Tried the skinny margarita, the house margarita, and the mojito...all were eh. Mojito recipe has a strange little twist on it that even the bartender admitted he disliked. The waitress was helpful, but almost too aggressive. I finished a drink, and I was asked if I would like another 4 times after politely declining the first. I get it, alcohol=big sales, but a bit too pushy. Tacos were fine. No complaints. Fish, pork, chicken, steak, and chorizo were eaten at the table. Also, who doesn't embrace the 'help yourself to salsa'? Random side note- floors were really slippery, as in I should have been wearing rubber-soled non-slip shoes just to avoid skating around the restaurant. At any rate, OK place, but I wouldn't venture over to the area just for the food. I am a fan of the other fifth group restaurants though...
(3)
Shannon M.

We recently had a work dinner here on a weeknight and the environment was perfect for our group of 8. One of the biggest perks is that this restaurant has circular tables which is great for groups since everyone can hear each other and talk to each other without having to yell down to the other side of the table. Their tacos are fantastic and I gobbled them up so quickly I really wanted to order more. Their drinks are also excellent and their skinny margarita is one of the best I've had in awhile. And of course, what Mexican restaurant doesn't have great chips and salsa? This place does bottomless chips, which I love, and their salsa is great and they have a lot of variety. It also would make a great date spot, though probably not on the weekend since I'm sure it gets packed.
(5)
Lance Z.

I thought it was pretty good and would definitely stop by if I'm in the area, but probably not one of my top destination places when I come into the city. It's a little bit pricey for the portions you get, but the quality was generally good according to what everyone tried. I was there early in the day so didn't try out all the tequilas but they had a very nice sample menu and flights to try.
(4)
Danny L.

Some of the best fajitas I've ever had the pleasure of eating. Good stiff drinks but it is on the pricey side of Mexican food. Good date place, they also hand out one free drink every hour. Good fun with friends too!
(5)
Donnell H.

Where have you been all my life? I must admit I was hesitant to give someone else a shot after many years of being a Taqueria del Sol loyalist but I'm glad I tried this spot tonight. The fried chicken and fish tacos are awesome. What's even better - you don't have to deal with the militant rules you find @ the other place........I'll be back!
(5)
Daniel S.

Fantastic tacos. Not much more to say, just go and get a Fried Chicken taco and taste for yourself.
(5)
Perry ..

Service was top notch. As typical with most visits to Mexican restaurants, we had a large group. Server had no trouble or complaints over splitting margaritas and queso over multiple checks. Speaking of margaritas, I found theirs to be very tasty. Chorizo was not the best i've had but red chile steak taco was excellent.
(3)
Elizabeth M.

I found this place through The Fifth Group Restaurants website, but what drew me in were the pictures of the decor. Bright red walls with a mural including Frida and mexican wrestlers! So- we had to check it out. For a Saturday night at 8pm it was moderately full. It was a little noisy inside, so we chose to sit outside on the patio and we were immediately seated. The misters and fans definitely helped cool the air on such a warm night. Our server Danny was awesome! He suggested the skinny margarita-which is now my new favorite way to order one- I loved it! We ordered the Guava Marinated Shrimp just based on Danny's description alone we had to try it. There were 4 big shrimps per order perfect for our table of 4 to have a taste. And they were delicious! For dinner I ordered the vegetarian Mexican pizza and It was very tasty. It was large enough to share with my husband. And we both really enjoyed it and I would definitely order it again. He also ordered 2 shrimp tacos which were also very good. Our friend ordered the fried chicken taco and he claimed that it might be the best taco he ever had. Also when we sat at our table we found 4 numbered poker chips and Danny informed us that they spun the wheel every hour and our table would have the chance to win something for free. We did not win but it did add a fun element to our night. This place is very casual and relaxed, but with great service. Overall we had a great time and will definitely keep this place on our radar!
(4)
Stephanie W.

I don't know why I'm so surprised that I like this place so much. I think maybe the name had me set up to expect "just another mexican place." However, what I found was inventive and flavorful drinks and food, excellent service, and sustainable, seasonal, and organic options. I've gone a couple times on weeknights and found that the service was attentive and the dining room not very crowded at all, providing for a really pleasant atmosphere. Parking can be interesting, but I think it's well worth a visit.
(4)
Jeremy A.

Stopped in tonight excited about some 2 dollar taco tuesday action. Sadly it starts next week. Whoops. Anyways I went for the chorizo, shrimp and fried chicken tacos. I liked the fried chicken ones alot. I also thought it was funny that the waiter told me to hit the salsa bar, yet they charge 2 bucks for chips here. kinda wierd. The chicken taco was enough to come back for the special, but I dont think id go back again and pay full price for the tacos that come ala carte.
(3)
Kelly W.

Best inexpensive tacos yet delicious tacos in Atlanta! Try the fried chicken taco or the green chile enchiladas. Great, fun atmosphere with delicious cocktails. Great family spot earlier in the night, and great date spot later.
(5)
Christine C.

My initial impressions of El Taco were extremely favorable. Tucked into a corner of Va-Hi, El Taco provides a nice change of pace from Atlanta's typical taco joint. The menu is extremely approachable and all the food my friends and I enjoyed was made with extremely fresh ingredients. Why two stars then? At the beginning of our meal my friends and I had decided we wanted to wind down our week with a pitcher of margaritas. After inquiring after the ingredients of El Taco's "house" margarita, the waiter suggested that we might like the "skinny" a little better. Feeling exploratory (and maybe a little calorie-conscious), we took with waiter's suggestion and enjoyed 2 pitchers with our meal. Those margaritas were tasty. So tasty, in fact, that El Taco charges $48 dollars a pitcher for them. Now I realize that our naivete contributed to the situation we found ourselves in when the check came, however, I do feel that it was entirely inappropriate for a waiter to casually recommend a drink of that cost to a group originally expressing interest in the most plebeian margarita possible. For this Drink Deception, I've deemed El Taco unworthy of a favorable review and another visit. Foodies beware, order if you dare (but check your drink prices first!).
(2)
Deanna J.

Wheel of Taco! Wheel of Taco! Ok... so they didn't really do the wheel as one would hope the would do the wheel. I want them to embrace the wheel. Use a microphone or something. We were on the patio and couldn't really hear the wheel (and we begged our server like 5 times to get them to spin the wheel!), but the concept is pretty cool. The table next to us won (but didn't actually hear their number called) but passed on their prize (pitcher of margaritas for half price) to some very excited ladies sitting next to them. El Taco falls into the category of 'Mexican Places You Have To Buy Your Own Chips,' like a few other places in town. But it's ok. The guacamole was some of the best I've had in a while and topped with some decorative radishes (which my friend was totally all about the radish. Go figure.). The Mexican pizzas sounded really good, and that's what I'll have to check out next, but I had the tilapia taco and the steak taco... but the best was the corn. It is bathed in some sort of lime mayo, and tasted great slathered on a taco or used as a dip with chips. A very,very reasonably priced place that will make the list when meeting up with friends or bringing guests from out of town - a laid back atmosphere where you feel comfortable having a long meal, and less expensive than from what I recall of the space's predecessor, Sala. A solid call, easy and free parking (YAY) and realllyy close to where I live. Yes, I would return to you, El Taco. I'll have a margarita in hand and hopes that the Wheel is a-spinnin'!
(4)
Cricket B.

Love the variety of salsas here and the guacamole is very tasty. The red chile steak taco is a favorite. I'm a regular!!!
(4)
Heather P.

I think I like it here. We've only been once, but it was a good experience. On a Saturday in VaHi, we were seated immediately. It's loud, but a good atmosphere. We got some AMAZING, delicious creamy guacamole with really yummy hot, crispy tortilla chips sprinkled with lime (so far beyond Tin Lizzy's that it knocks them off the map.) The salsa bar is fantastic: especially loved the roasted salsa and the tomatillo. The mango-habanero, well... don't say you weren't warned. It starts out candy-sweet from the mango and finishes with a kick in the teeth that would make a lesser woman cry. It. Was. Awesome. (Steer clear of the sweet pickled veg, though. It was good until I bit into something extremely perfume-y that I couldn't identify and it was kinda ick.) We also got frozen mojitos, which were yummy, strong, and definitely unique. I got a salad with chile-de-arbol marinated steak. It came out medium rare, but to be fair I didn't specify. Guess I should have, because it was a little bloodier than I like, but so well-flavored I didn't mind. Smokey enough for me to taste notes of delicious delicious bacon. LOVED the salad... taqueria salads are notorious for taking something healthy and making it into a heart attack, but this salad was mostly fresh veg, medallions of steak, and a sprinkle of tortilla strips and a dash of cotija cheese. Perfect balance, especially when I added marinated cabbage and tomatillo salsa from the salsa bar... Boyfriend got the "short stack" with carnitas and a shrimp taco, both good. Their a-la-carte taco menu is extensive (regular menu is small), which is great for drunk snacks, especially considering their lengthy and reasonably-priced drink menu. We were too full for dessert, which is sad because they have fried apple pie on the menu. Expensive for a taqueria but crazy well-priced for the neighborhood. Not bad at all.
(4)
Angela M.

We went for the top 25 chefs event - amusing, because I don't think I saw one of them there, not that I know any of them, but my friends do, and they were all talking to me, not them, so no chefs... We sat at one of the high-top tables, which we were sharing with a couple of ladies that someone in the party knew. It was good to be close to the bar so that you could order the beer specials since the servers were run a little ragged. They made up for it by giving us several of those chips for the prize wheel, and I was lucky enough to get 45, which would earn me a free pitcher of sangria, but sadly, the little pointer didn't land on 45. We got 5 tacos so that we could taste everything: pork carnitas (a little dry and couldn't really taste anything but the pork), Mexican chorizo (kind of bland for chorizo), crispy pork belly (not that crispy... good flavor, but not a fan of the texture), and my two favorites: fried chicken (deliciously good combination of fried chicken and corn, and I don't even like corn!), red chili steak (crispy onions gave it great flavor and texture and it was still juicy). We also enjoyed a side of guacamole, and their version is just chunky avocado with lime and spices (no onions or tomatoes) which I thought was pretty good, considering it wasn't mine. The service was decent considering the crowd, but there was some confusion over which orders belonged to whom. This happens when everything comes in the same tortilla, such that the only difference between orders appears to be the number of tacos in your basket. For me, it's Fifth Group's knock off of Taqueria del Sol. Good, but not mouth-watering. At least the service was friendlier than at TdS.
(3)
Dio S.

Enjoyed the food the two times I've eaten here. They specialize in tacos with fairly substantial fillings each with different recipe combining varied ingredients (but featuring a main meat) cooked different ways. This is in contrast to the canonical meat/onion/cilantro combo all cooked pretty much the same way, that you find at those little places on Buford Highway. Fried fish taco is by far the best one of the bunch. Not only is it fresh and tasty but also the only one where the combination worked well. Carnitas, shrimp, chicken, and beef are very decent. Chorizo is not very good. I liked the ingredients for the fried chicken taco, with creamed corn, but it didn't work too nicely in a taco. Black beans are finely pureed and above average. There are many tequilas and Margaritas are, as I kind of expect from a 5th Group restaurant, very nice. The same with service, friendly and attentive. Each taco is pre-set to come in a corn or a flour tortilla, like it's part of the recipe. I don't know how they decided these things. Anyway the flour tortilla here are just awful. I've been eating mainly made from scratch corn tortillas for a long time now, so I am especially unhappy with these insipid things. Tacos would be so much better if tortilla is improved. Salsas and condiments are centralized at a station. About 6 different salsas plus some pickled veges, which I appreciate. Don't like that lime and cilantro are at the station, though. I would prefer them to come with the tacos or at least be right on the table. Also, the cups are tiny (that's what she said?). You will likely need multiple trips and that can be a bother. A meal, I would say 3 tacos, cost $10 and that's not counting chips which are an extra $2.50 charge, and also not counting any sides. Kind of pricey for tacos. Atmosphere, very "lunching ladies" especially on the patio, well it's Virginia Highland. Overall a decent place, but not a place I would think of going unless I am right there.
(3)
Leiana J.

Given my love for Tacqueria del Sol, I have a hard time saying El Taco is my favorite tacqueria in Atlanta... but I think I have to give credit where it's due. They have a great selection, including burgers, salads, the classic tacos and enchiladas, plus a gluten friendly menu and a salsa bar. Their tacos are a class above their equivalents at Tacqueria del Sol. The service is pretty good. They have indoor and outdoor seating, both of which are comfortable and boast a sophisticated, yet casual, dÃ©cor. Also, they have an hourly raffle for door prizes, like t-shirts, free food, etc.
(5)
Mahsa G.

It's a cute restaurant/bar with neat paintings on the wall, and a random hourly draw that could win you a free drink! The fried tacos and corn were really good. The margarita was ok, but I would order it again. They also have a salsa bar - and being a huge fan of moe's I loved it. Some of the salsas I did not like at all but my friend loved, so there's something for everyone.
(4)
Lauren O.

As this was our first visit, my boyfriend and I wanted to try as much of El Taco's offerings as possible. We got their chips and queso blanco, which is a creamy, flavorful dip made of what tastes similar to jack cheese. We grabbed their roasted salsa as well as the pico de gallo from the taco bar, both of which were good but not as spicy as I would've liked. We split a Mexican pizza with carnitas, and the flavorful pork shoulder topping that didn't disappoint. We also shared some tacos, the best of which was the roasted chicken, which had a smoky-sweet taste like that of chipotle peppers and bacon. The fried chicken taco Yelpers rave about was fine, but not as tasty as the roasted. The trout taco was delicious, fresh and perfectly complemented by the cabbage slaw on top of it. The one I would never order again was the red chili steak, which just tasted... weird. Too sweet and not at all like beef. Our server was great - helpful and courteous. Fun place with good food. I'll be back.
(4)
Jordan S.

Simple good food. Mix and match, as all the tacos are great. A great place to meet friends before going out. The wheel of taco kicks ass too!
(3)
George H.

Came on the night that Jennifer Anniston and Paul Rudd were here and it really added to this review. They were seated a table away and it was fun seeing celebrities in Atlanta. Ok now the food, the guacamole was super fresh and tasted like they made it table side although is isn't. The queso was also a little spicy and went really well with the chips. Tried the fish taco and the chicken enchilada. This was the best enchilada I have ever tasted, but I am also a big fan of their salsa verde. The fish taco much more fish than Taqueria del Sol's. The taste though didn't quite match up and I miss the jalapeÃ±os.
(4)
Ariella S.

El Taco is very very yummy. The I can't say that the Mexican food is the most authentic, but there is definitely Atlanta-culinary scene influence on it that makes me come back for both the ambiance as well as the food. Every hour they spin a wheel with numbers on it correlating to tokens you are given upon being seated. If the wheel lands on your token number you get some sort of goodie (usually free margaritas, yummmmm). Everybody likes a little free something, no matter who you are. I am obsessed with salsa, and the fact that they have a salsa bar with a beautiful array of different flavored salsas and pickles veggies makes me incredibly happy. I always order shrimp or chicken fajitas which are great paired with the guacamole and various salsas. The fried chicken tacos are also out of this world and extremely unique to this type of cuisine. MUST try the Mexican Pizzas. They are essentially a tostada with various Mexican flavored toppings it. It's a "Grilled flatbread with vegetarian refried black beans, tomato, shaved lettuce, avocado, radish, two Mexican cheeses, crema and hot peppers--this one's big enough for one hungry hombre or to share with the whole table." DELICIOUS. Great place to eat and have a drink. Or five.
(4)
John H.

When I give 4 or 5 stars for a place, it's usually due to a combination of things. However, the key drivers are usually service and atmosphere. Food does factor in, but I will give a place 4 or 5 stars if i truly enjoy the experience. El Taco doesn't have 5 star food that some places do. However, it makes up for it in service and atmosphere. First, let me commend three bartenders there. It is without a doubt, a place that I will almost always sit at the bar while visiting. Brandon, Hillary, and new addition Danny are all very good. Another thing I always pay attention to is how the bartenders (no I will NOT call them mixologists) interact with customers. The El Taco crew definitely take the time to interact. It adds quality and fun to the experience. Brandon and Hillary are wicked fun here. Danny is a good addition on Sundays when I need my hangover fix of Belvedere, Soda, and extra limes. Hydrate! Hydrate! The food is still pretty good, but it's what keeps this place from getting a 5th star. I love the Queso Royale, steak taco and pork tacos. Past that, I'm coming for the bar and atmosphere. I like to think of El Taco as one of the perfect places to start out the night, nosh on alcohol absorbing foods, and leave with a smile. Go say hey to Brandon, Hillary, or Danny and get one of the better Agave/Lime Juice based Margaritas in Atlanta too.
(4)
TheEatist K.

Oh my freaking YUM!! -ROASTED CHICKEN cilantro, crema, "just-crushed" guacamole, (I got fresh jalepenos instead of fried), flour tortilla -GRILLED SHRIMP dried tomatoes, pickled cabbage, lime, corn tortilla -YUMZ! -RED CHILI STEAK crispy onions, tomatillo-lime salsa, flour tortilla Good Lord these were all delicious! The steak was crispy/seared and looked well done but was tender. And the flavor...oh the flavor of all three -chicken was not greasy, simply tender and delicious. The grilled shrimp was perfectly firm yet tender and bursting with flavor. I made an utter pig of myself and it was pretty cheap too : ) I didn't bother with any of the fancier stuff on the menu and boy am I glad! Happily fed for less is the best.
(4)
Kabeer K.

Went there for Dinner on Saturday Night. The place has a nice vibrant atmosphere and very friendly staff.. The menu sounds delicious and the tacos sounds like the best tacos you will every eat. However, the delivery in the kitchen falls short. They served our tacos in record time, but for a sit down place, I am not sure that is necessarily a good think, especially if you miss out on some ingredients. I ordered a Friend Chicken Taco and a red chili beef taco. The friend chicken was hot, just out of the fryer and the breading was perfect. However, there was not much else in the taco. Essentially a piece of fried chicken in a tortilla. The taco is supposed to have grilled corn in chili-lime mayo and crumbled Mexican cheese. I had a little bit of corn but there was no sign of the crumbled cheese. As for the Chilli beef taco, the beef was a little dry and not "Red Chili" enough. I was hoping for a lot more flavor. The Crispy onions that are supposed to be inside the tortilla were also missing. Overall, I would come back to give them a second chance, but I think they should take a little extra time in the kitchen and spend some more time constructing their tacos. If i want good tacos at lightning speed, you will find me at Taqueria Del Sol.
(3)
Jessica R.

I pretty much love this place. I probably would have never eaten there if not for the fact that my sister managed here for a few years. First let me say how much i LOVE when i frequent a place and a bartender knows what I want to drink and has it ready minutes after walking in the door. Brandon ALWAYS starts me with my regular and follows up with his latest DELICIOUS concoction. I have tried all the tacos and barring my own personal taste....i enjoyed them all. personal favorites...fried chicken (the corn....sllllp!) grilled chicken (the combo of fried jalapenos and avocado...delish!) love the salsa bar, the palermo margaritas. in general, i love to dine here. and the prices are not bad at all.
(5)
R W.

Hmmm how can I put this nicely... I don't think I can. " WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT I JUST ATE???" ordered the fish Taco and two Pollo asada "tacos" (if that's what they want to call it.) AWFUL took two bites and threw the rest out. I don't know what the hell they are aiming at with the weird favors, toppings, and greasy meat and cheese but this is the worst!
(1)
Ravi R.

This is easily the most overrated restaurant in the Highlands. It is always busy for some reason and the tacos are overpriced, small and not good. The enchiladas are similarly dismal. The margaritas are decently sized, but they are way too sweet and not strong at all. I couldn't taste any tequila. Try any other taco place in the area and it will probably be better.
(2)
Chad T.

Never disappoints! If you go to El Taco, then you MUST get a fried chicken taco and the El Big Boy Margarita. It's $10.25... and well worth it! The atmosphere is high energy with a lot of commotion. I wouldn't take a date here, but it's a great place for a group of friends.
(5)
Steve V.

Great place for drinks! Awesome margaritas here. Food is above average. When you enter, they give you a numbered token. Every hour, they spin a huge wheel with prizes if your number comes up. I recently won! Free chips and salsa. There are much bigger prizes, but I'll take what I can get. There is a large bar in the front and a nice semi-outdoor/patio area. Every time I go, it is pretty busy...which I guess is a good sign. If there is a wait at another restaurant in the area, worth stopping here for a drink while you wait too.
(4)
Jamie C.

The Carnitas and Fried Chicken tacos are both very good- the best tacos I have had in Atlanta. The chips and salsa options there are also excellent. Laura N. doesn't know what she's talking about.
(5)
Michael L.

The carnitas are a party in your mouth! I ordered two individual tacos a-la-carte (the way to go!). I ordered a carnitas and a fajita steak taco. Both of them were delicious. I wanted to visit again before leaving town, but we tried going for lunch and they were not open until 5.
(5)
Neil S.

We hit up The Original (not the fake) El Taco tonight to grab some good Mexican food and margaritas, and we weren't disappointed. Since we were at El Taco, we thought it appropriate to order... well... tacos. Best: Red Chili Steak. A Close Second: Fried Chicken. Others, Also Good: Shrimp, Pork Carnitas According to the waiter, the fried chicken tacos are their most popular, but our table's consensus was that red chili steak is the way to go. We also got the Surf 'n Turf fajitas, which were decent. Their Mexican pizzas are gigantic (10 inch, if I remember correctly) and, according to others, good. The margaritas were muy delicioso. Top notch salt. And there's not much you can mess up with a Tecate Tall Boy, short of serving it warm (which El Taco didn't.) The Wheel of Fortune (tm) was spinning as we walked in on the hour. If the wheel lands on the number you're given by the host as you're seated, you win. We won a couple of Modelo pint glasses that we immediately poured our Tall Boys into. We went to The Original El Taco for the food; we'll be returning for the food (tacos) and fun... beware of impostors.
(4)
Tania S.

Introduced by my sister, my brother-in-law, and their two crazy kids... el taco does not disappoint... with the best queso, frozen mojitos, and tacos in the ATL. Yes, taqueria in decatur is ridiculous, but as far as sit-down, good atmosphere for the whole family with an hourly spin-the-wheel game, el taco in virgina highlands wins hands down. Did I mention the frozen mojitos? Just note that that the individual glasses are cheaper than the pitchers - it's strange but true. Only problem as I sit here watching seinfeld reruns on the couch with the hubbie, is that the laughter is shaking up all the chips, queso, mojitos, and tacos, and I had wished I had more discipline at el taco esta noche.
(4)
Heather P.

My best friend and I tried El Taco out last summer after driving by nearly every day. We were fierce Taqueria del Sol fans... keyword, were. El Taco is the new Taqueria, at least in our book. I've had a little bit of everything at El Taco... fajitas, the mexican "pizza," tacos and sides. If you're a first timer, play it simple and go with the tacos. The mexican pizza was a miss for me, simply because it was too cumbersome to eat. Steak fajitas are great. I usually stay away from anything with shrimp in it here though... there is a fishy taste that overpowers it to me. The black beans with crema are amazing -- give them a try, even if you don't like black beans. They have the texture of refried beans, and the crema adds a really good flavor to them. The corn is a great side too, and is a great addition to the fried chicken taco. As far as tacos go, try the red chili steak, the fried chicken, and the grilled chicken. And please don't forget the margaritas. I don't know what they put in them, but they taste unlike any margarita I've had in Atlanta. You'll encounter a line on Friday and Saturday nights, but that can be said for most places in the Highlands. Service is great, even when they're slammed. If you like Taqueria del Sol, you'll love El Taco.
(4)
Tracy J.

Found this restaurant on Groupon while we were in Atlanta. It was a $20 cab ride from Downtown but well worth. Enjoyed exploring a different neighborhood in Atlanta. Food was reasonably priced....ended up spending about $12 per person on food. The waiter recommended the fried chicken taco...sounded odd to me but I gave it a whirl. I was not disappointed! We also tried the steak and fish which were both good as well. Margaritas were are prices reasonably....a pitcher of house margaritas in only $25. They are made with real citrus juices unlike a lot of places that blast you with roses lime juice and some sort of bottled sour mix.. They have a wheel of prizes that spin every hour. When you are seated they give you a token with a number on it. If your number hits you recive something free....margarita, beer, guac, ect. We won a free Pacifico. Not a huge prize but adds some excitement to your dinner. If you are looking for traditional Mexican cuisine, not really the spot for you. But if you are looking for a relaxing time with drinks and small bites....this place is the way to go.
(4)
Emily B.

Meh. The food was alright and definitely over priced. I had the smoked chicken tacos and a veggie taco and my husband got the el short stack that really didn't look appetizing at all. The service was great though.
(3)
Bill H.

Great place. The short rib enchilada is a must have. Unique Mexican food
(5)
Bianca W.

I really liked this place. It was our first time, so we sat at the bar. The bartender gives you these chips with numbers on them, and every few minutes someone spins the wheel, and you win whatever is associated with the number chosen. I got the enchiladas which were mediocre, but my bf's fajitas were the bomb.com !! The margaritas were also very tasty!! Loved the atmosphere.
(3)
Clayton W.

This is definitely not Mexican food, and any place that charges for chips automatically loses a star (tip - give me salty things for free and I'll probably buy more drinks!). But the not-really-carnitas carnitas, as much as it pains the purist in me to say, was delicious. Especially with big scoops of the cowboy beans and free salsa piled into the tortilla. This won't be my Mexican go-to spot, but for a lighter dinner close to home and a couple drinks out on the patio, it will do quite nicely.
(3)
Taylor A.

I only have two words for you....CHIRIZO TACO. YUM (ok, that was technically 3 words)
(3)
David W.

Even after all the hype, it took me until last Friday night to finally try this place. My high expectations were definitely met and I've already been back a second time. The tacos were excellent. I had the fish, carnitas, and fried chicken tacos the first night. The carniats and fried chicken ones were especially good. I had the short stack on my recent visit with some carnitas pork added on top and it was delicious! I can't even explain what it was (I know it had beans in it and a fried egg on top), but I loved it. The atmosphere was also great. Both waiters/waitresses I had were in a great mood and were very helpful. There is also a drawing every hour to win cool stuff like T-shirts and tequila shots.
(5)
Laura H.

Pros: - We had a groupon. - 45 minute wait (for four) ended up being only a 20-30 minute wait. - The skinny margarita (tequila, agave, triple sec) was a hit at our table. - Great salsa bar... something for everyone. - Loved the green chile chicken enchiladas... loved them. Reasonably priced (given the portion) at $7.50. - Non-smoking! Cons: - It took us 10 minutes to find a really tight (anxiety-inducing) parking spot. - The service was okay - kind of impersonal and rushed, which I didn't understand since we were all drinking. - The dining room floor is so "slippery when in heels" that I almost wiped out on my way to the salsa bar. - We were comparing everything to Tin Lizzy's (our favorite local spot) the entire time, and the chips, prices and scene at El Taco didn't favorably compare. I would go back for the green chile chicken enchiladas alone... they were that good!
(3)
Laura N.

I was very surprised to find how much I enjoyed the food, even if it is NOT authentic Mexican. Chips - 3 stars. average tortilla chips. nothing special. Salsa - 4 stars. very good and fresh. The house salsa is excellent, but I also like the variety of salsas here! Queso - 5 stars. thick, creamy, and flavorful. Love it. Pork Carnitas Taco - 5 stars. a little salty but so flavorful and delicious. Fried Chicken Taco - 5 stars. very good. loved the corn and cheese. Green chili chicken enchiladas - 5 stars. very cheesy, large, and delicious. Flan - 5 stars. this thing was tiny, but it was so tasty with its pineapple garnish. Apple pie - 4 stars. warm, delicious, looks like a piece of . . . fried fish. haha I did not care much for the atmosphere. Good for large groups.
(4)
Dave K.

The Original El Taco has been a huge hit among my friends since we wandered in randomly a couple of years ago. It's been said a million times already, but the fried chicken taco is a taco par excellence--the corn salad (which you can order as a side) really makes it. The queso royale is also delish. I also really like the fried fish taco smothered in habanero salsa. Mmm. Weird tip: You probably want to check my math on this, but I think the last time I was in there with friends we noticed that the classic margaritas are cheaper by the glass than by the pitcher--the pitcher doesn't seem to quite fill four glasses. Go fig.
(5)
Todd P.

Ay caramba! The restaurant biz must be tough. Despite a few recent tough reviews, I have to say my experience wasn't too bad when dining at El Taco with a group of friends. I'd only been one time before, so I can't comment on any trends. Here's what I had: Sangria -- It was delicious, definitely sweet, hit the spot on a warm day. Frozen Mojito -- I had to taste this drink that goes for $40 a pitcher. Packs quite the punch. Nice. Queso royale - chorizo, onions, and jalapenos in white cheese with seasoned chips. If you're like me, melted cheese is practically irresistible. Toss in a few extra goodies and it's a home run. Carnitas taco -- plenty of meat, nice flavors. Chorizo taco -- loved the spizy zing. Grilled scallions - awesome! The price point is on the high side for the quantity of food, but I've gotten used to dropping $30-50 for a night out with friends so I wasn't completely shocked at my bill for the evening. While I wouldn't dine here regularly, I wouldn't intentionally steer away if I was in the mood and in the neighborhood.
(3)
Emily R.

Like Lauren S., my latest trip to OET was less than fantastic. I took my brother there for dinner last night and found the food and service to be lacking. I also had tough corn drowning in mayo, as well as really overcooked/dry fish tacos and extra salty carnitas. Dinner that should have taken under an hour, took almost two because the servers disappeared for upwards of 10 minutes at a time or stood around chatting with friends. It took so long to get the check I was tempted to just leave. The only redeeming point of the experience was the fro mo was as tasty as I remembered, but for nearly $50 for the two of us for 2 drinks, a bowl of guac, and 3 tacos a piece plus corn, that is ridiculous. I won't be back. P.S. To add insult to injury, they are cheating with the Wheel of Taco. While we were there they spun and announced a winner, but no one had that chip, I'm sure it was in the half full jar at the desk, and they didn't spin again. Booo! Hisss! You stink!!
(2)
Chris A.

Really good food. The chips, salsa, guac, and queso set us back about $13.00 but you are in Virginia Highlands. We went here for Mother's Day and sat on the screened porch area on a great day. Our foursome tried the fried chicken, chorizo, fried fish, and smoked chicken tacos. All were excellent. If in the area, this is a must for Mexican.
(4)
Melissa B.

I think my favorite part is probably the layout/decor of the place. The front patio (heated!) is a great spot and the bar inside is big. Service was slow at first, but then after our first drinks the bartender was more friendly and attentive. Good taco selection, solid drink list, and great space. Worth a second try from me to try more tacos and hang out.
(3)
Daniel B.

Went here on a Thursday night. The parking lot for this place can be a little tight, but luckily I was able to find an open spot. We got the lime-salted corn chips for an appetizer and then I tried a few of their tacos - pork carnitas, crispy pork belly, and Mexican chorizo. Everything was decent. The pork belly was probably my favorite. They have a salsa bar, which is nice. Also when you eat here, they give your table a number and at some point(s) throughout the night, they spin this wheel-of-fortune type wheel where you can win free stuff. Service was good.
(3)
Kathleen M.

I arrived at El Taco for the January Tweet Up. ... and didn't walk out till about 4 hours later. Yikes. And yeah, it was a good time. I ordered the carnitas Mexican pizza and it was mighty tasty. Well marinated and tender pork, fresh avocados, and a nice crispy crust. Plus, it was HUGE. I could only finish about a third of it, and I came in really freaking hungry. The margaritas proved to be far too sweet for my liking, but the Tecates with lime went down reeeeal easy. I also really liked the crowd: a nice mix of old folks, young folks, kids for dinner, and the like. Definitely a friendly neighborhood joint and much better this 2nd time around. I'll be sure to check back in to make sure it's consistent with the latter experience.
(3)
Josh G.

Spin the wheel, make a deal. This is a great spot to party. The tacos are decent, but it's all about getting lit.
(3)
Brandon B.

I would give this place 4 stars if it had better consistency. Some days it's great, others not so much. The constant, however, is those ever-potent frozen mojitoes! I would like to think I can handle my liquor, but those frozen bastards will get you by the boo boo! When you start grabbing the nearby pinata and taking pictures with friends, you know the mojitoes have once again taken over your night. Those things are super sweet and they pack a lot of booze. Be sure to bring a seeing-eye dog so it can guide you back home after a night here. Oh, I would also like to give honorable mention to the grilled corn here. Great great stuff. I appreciate the chile relleno taco as well.
(3)
Pranjal V.

The tacos are alright. My fav - chicken posole. Hot, spicy and lots of flavor.
(3)
Chris B.

Fried chicken tacos - 5 stars Pork belly tacos - 4 stars Margaritas - 4 stars Sounds like a solid 4 star review to me! But seriously, you've gotta try the fried chicken tacos, delicious! I also like the little spin-the-wheel-for-prizes gig that they do every hour, maybe a little hokey but a nice way to keep everybody on their toes, haha. I'll definitely be back to try some new menu items soon!
(4)
Courtney D.

Dear El Taco, I love you. With your delicious & dangerous fro-mos, and your tantalizing & tasty tacos...you put me in a comatose, and I love every minute of it. And the fact that I always win a shot of tequila or cheese dip with your intriguing spinning wheel never hurts either ;-) However, please bring back the chicken taco from the beginning...I do miss it, though the new rendition is quite fabulous. Maybe have both? One can never have enough chicken-ey goodness. That is all for now. I'll dream of your chorizo till next time. Gracias. Love, Courtney
(5)
Sherry W.

WOW!!! I got to go to the family/friends event over the weekend and was blown away!! First and foremost, the frozen mojito is bar none, the best drink I've ever had. It is a must try. The frozen margarita was amazing too- so unique and flavorful! You have to try the beef skewers appetizer, it was so good. My husband had the fried tilapia taco and said it was phenomenal! I had the Mexican pizza and it was great- fresh avocado, really really delicious. This is exactly what VaHi needs, a cool "joint" you can hang out, be dressy or casual and have a great time! WE'LL BE BACK!
(5)
Leah V.

i still cannot believe how packed this place gets based on the abnormally lackluster food, especially for a fifth group establishment. i have been twice, and both times, i walked away with a sad face. if i'm going to pay that much for tacos, they better be tasty! the plus is the frozen mojito, but even that is not anything special. on the upside, the service is good. on the downside, the place is crawling with the "hey, let's go to the highlands!" crowd. if you don't know what that means...then, well...
(2)
Ryan D.

I really wanted to love this place, but after my first visit I just couldn't. The atmosphere was fun, and the patio was great. We were able to walk right in and grab a great seat right on the sidewalk. The waitstaff was friendly, quick and accurate. I love the game they play on the hours with the prizes being raffled off. It makes for a bit of fun during what might be a normal meal. With all that said we ordered chips ans salsa right off the bat and the chips were as stale as stale could be. We send them back and same thing again. I didn't bother to send them back a second time because it goes against everything in my soul to do so. The salsa was good, but not great. Up next were a few house margaritas. I opted for the house over a Texas because I wanted to see how good the place really is. You can tell a lot about a Mexican restaurant from their house marg. These things were no better than something I've had at a college concert drink stand. So far they violated the 2 main things I require in a Mexican restaurant...Bad chips and mundane margs. I ordered the Traditional Mexican Pizza, and it was pretty good. I enjoyed eating something different, the use of romaine lettuce over iceberg and a nice sized portion. Not too bad...I'd definitely order it again. The real kicker for me for the evening was the fried chicken taco. I ordered one because of all the hype surrounding them. Let me tell you friends that the rumors are true! That's a tinny piece of heaven right there! Ok, so with a good meal, a great single taco why the 2 star rating you ask. I'm giving it 2 stars because without good house margs and chips and salsa it's lacking in soul as a traditional Mexican restaurant.
(2)
Heather M.

Good: - We went on a Tuesday night at 7:30 & didn't have to wait for a table. - The waitress gave us suggestions of her favorites. - The chips & salsa were pretty good & I liked the idea of having a salsa bar. Bad: - No one offered to refill our water until after we got the check--even then, it was the hostess rather than our waitress. - The steak in the steak taco was so fatty & stringy I literally couldn't chew it & had to keep spitting it out in my napkin. - I gave up on the steak & switched to the fried chicken taco. It had one measly strip of fried chicken & some sort of corn salsa that was so sweet it would've been better as dessert. - No one really explained the tokens to us except "they're for the taco wheel" and, when we asked "what is the taco wheel?" we were told "we spin it once an hour & give away prizes." Way to upsell customers & get them to stick around longer by ordering more drinks or dessert! - Tacos were $3.50 - $3.95 each Overall, this place has nothing on Taqueria del Sol or Holy Taco. Since both of those places have much better food at lower prices, I'd rather just go to either of those, even though it means a longer drive.
(2)
Bobbin W.

I'm a total taco fiend and was really excited to sample the tortilla delights The Original El Taco has to offer. I approached the restaurant from Amsterdam Avenue and completely missed the door, skulking past the plastic covering, around the other side of the building before I realized the entrance is located at the side facing Amsterdam. Anyway, my coworker Walter R. was already there waiting for me, not that it mattered at 6 p.m. on a Tuesday--the place was pretty empty. Neither of us had time to eat lunch that day, so we began our feast with the wood-grilled beef skewer appetizer, oozing with smoked jalapeÃ±o oil and flavorful juice. Starving, I scarfed a triumvirate of tacos: the fried tilapia (filled with avocado, sunflower sprouts and habanero salsa--pretty good, although I would have liked a fat layer of melted cheese); fried chicken (stuffed with corn, lime mayo and cheese, although the layer of cheese could have been fatter); and Mexican chorizo (my least favorite by far, including grilled peppers and onions, radish slices--interesting but not good raw--and a lil cheese). After I had inhaled my first taco, the waitress informed Walter R. and me of the condiment bar--a cart offering a variety of salsas and toppings. Too bad there wasn't any extra cheese... The best part of the evening was when a young man brought me a glass of beer. "And a Guinness for you," he brightly smiled, sliding the frosty glass in front of me. (I don't remember what beer it was--I'm just saying Guinness.) And I was like, "Okay...thanks." And he was all, "You want it, don't you?" And I answered, "Sure, why not? I appreciate it." Turns out someone else had ordered the beer, and he accidentally was delivering it to my table. "Oh darn," I told him. "I thought you were insinuating you find me attractive by bringing me a beer. But now I see you work here." Oopsie. Anyway, I didn't think the tacos were that great, but they weren't horrible either. I'm partial to Six Feet Under's combo taco plate, and nothing will pull it down from its ethereal pedestal--not The Original El Taco, at least.
(3)
Dexter M.

One of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta and definitely the best taco joint in the city. You've got to try the fried chicken taco! All their meat is organic so you'll never have to worry about what it is you're eating - it's real. Not a fan of their mojitos but their sangria is absolutely awesome.
(5)
Hamad M.

First of all, don't look at 3 stars as being bad. Too many reviewers (myself included) might be a little too liberal with the 5 star review. A Five star review should mean that the place or service is flawless. El Taco is a fine place. Let's weigh the following in order of best to worst: Service - excellent. Getting your name in and seated, to the waitstaff, everything here is well above average. Atmosphere - great. It's a fun atmosphere a little on the loud side, but the loud probably enhances the fun. Maybe a little noise reduction would help. Food - good. Everthing I've had I've liked though I can't say one thing stands out as being great. The chips & queso are yummy, and the salsa bar offer some really nice flavors. I like the smokey salsa that is reminiscent of Willy's salsa that I eat like it's my last meal everytime I go. Drink - ok. Beers and margartias are fine, but there is no sweet tea. At least they sell Coke products instead of Pepsi. That would be a deal-breaker. Overall, I like the place. The food can improve some, but in it's current form, it's a nice alternative in the VaHi neighborhood.
(3)
Katie W.

To me, the name sounds too much like Del Taco and brings back memories of late-night drive-thrus, crappy tacos and too many packets of Del Scorcho sauce. Despite the similar name and its connotations for me, The Original El Taco is decidedly different from Del Taco. To start off, the staff is friendly. Very friendly. The host/hostess stand people were nice, the bartenders were nice and our server was nice. Our server was also efficient and we received our food quickly, although she did get a few things wrong about the menu (she recommended an item that didn't exist and made a questionable recommendation on a substitution) but overall she was fine. And, she made sure we had enough chips and that we were aware of when we won our cheese dip - woo hoo! The cheese dip was good, too, and probably even better because it was free. We stuck to tacos and I tried three of them: the fried chicken, rellenos and the fried tilapia. The rellenos taco comes on a crunchy corn shell but our server highly recommended substituting a soft flour tortilla instead. I think this was a bad recommendation. The chile relleno is very soft and it would have been fantastic with a crunchy corn tortilla. It was still pretty good but I think it could have been better and I do want to try it again. The fried chicken taco was very good, probably my favorite. The tilapia taco was good once I dressed it up with the sauces and condiments from the salsa bar. My friends did not dress theirs up and they all commented that it was bland. I also ordered the grilled corn and it was very tasty (I put extra cilantro from the salsa bar in it, too). And, we had the frozen mojitos. They earn a star unto themselves. The rest of the menu sounds interesting and it is all still pretty reasonably priced. I do plan to venture beyond tacos on future visits. The decor is nice. I like the casual setting, pretty reasonable prices and potent drinks. It's fun. I think it's a good neighborhood spot (TONS of kids in there with their families around 6:30 on a Thursday) but I will venture here again even though it's not in my neighborhood. I also like the big parking lot and that I do not have to valet park my car.
(3)
Karl H.

Hit this place on a rainy Tuesday so it wasn't too busy, but it sure does seem like a great place to drink too much beer. They give you a token w/ a # on it when you walk in -- then spin a wheel every hour. If it lands on your #, you get the special on the wheel...not bad! Tacos were better than I expected (chicken & carnitas), though pricier than expected for a taco. The salsa -- not that great.
(3)
Roshni J.

The food was good, but the service was awful. We waited 20 minutes to order drinks and when we ordered were told they were out of the tequila for our pitcher. We were offered another that would be 'a little bit more'. When we got the bill it was 40 percent or 15 dollars more. The waiter argued and said "well it's not quite 50 percent more"- regardless it was far from my definition of a little bit. When we complained they didn't have the courtesy to make any adjustment. I'm not going back and don't recommend that you do either.
(2)
Allison Z.

My update is quick.... You must get the red onion steak tacos when at Original El Taco. They are the best tasting, most delicious tacos known to man. Because of these Mexican goodies, I've given El Taco 4 stars instead of 3. I knew it would happen, just needed to taste the best tacos ever to make it so.
(4)
Michelle M.

Alas, I finally got to check out the infamous Original El Taco with my dinner group. This restaurant is proudly owned by the Fifth Restaurant Group and has some interesting history. I must preface my rating with the fact that I don't do 4 or 5 stars until I get to sample enough food on the menu. I hope to come back soon and update my review. Perhaps I should talk about the food and save the history of the restaurant for the end of this review.... Hmm, chips are decent (I prefer them to be a little thinner). They are supposedly lime flavored, which I didn't really notice. We ordered their queso, queso with chorizo and guac. Let's just so good, yummy and delish. Everyone's favorite by far was the guac. It was so wonderfully creamy and rich. We speculated that it might have heavy cream in it but we asked- just avocado, lime and salt. I ordered a chorizo and carnitas taco. The chorizo, although not very spicy, was wonderful. (Ecco makes the chorizo from scratch and sells it to El Taco and would LOVE to be able to buy this) The carnitas taco was also good, but I must admit that I think I do like Tacqueria's carnitas taco a tiny bit better. Someone else ordered an enchilada that looked quite yummy and will be bringing me back soon. The atmosphere and service here would bring me back any day. Other THINGS THAT ARE GREAT about this restaurant include the SERVICE, the variety of SEATING & ATMOSHPERE (inside, outside, high top tables, regular tables, the bar...), the SALSA BAR (i'm the queen of condiments), the flour TORTILLAs that they use in their soft tacos are wonderfully delicate with a hint of something that makes it taste more authentic and good. I also liked the wheel of taco even though we didn't win anything. :-( It was still FUN. ok... I'm tired so I'll have to come back later to update the history. Once I have the pleasure of eating more food here I may upgrade to 4 stars too!
(3)
Kelly O.

Fried chicken taco and pork belly taco were awesome - the pieces of fried chicken were huge compared to tacos at places like Taco Stand and Tin Lizzy's, and the pork belly was really flavorful. There was one really hot pepper hidden in there, but once I took a bite that almost set my mouth on fire, I removed the pepper and happily enjoyed the sweeter cole slaw flavor of the taco. The chips were especially good too, they put some type of seasoning on them which is quite tasty, but the salsa is nothing to write home about. Margaritas are also top notch, especially for the price, you get a huge glass for only $6, but they are definitely more sour than sweet. We had to wait about 45 minutes last Friday night, but there is lots of room to hang out outside and have a drink, so it wasn't terrible to have to wait. Overall some of the best tacos in Atlanta, I can't wait to go back and try more!
(4)
Maura C.

I wanted to like this place a little bit more, but three stars is just right. I had the guacamole (fine), the Key West margarita (fantastic) and three tacos: fried fish, pork carnitas and mole chicken. The chicken was the best, with a rich and spicy mole sauce, and the fish taco was next, crispy with great garnishes but a little dry. The pork carnitas taco was a bit of a letdown: the pork was chunked, not shredded, and it had no sauce to kind of bring everything together. Fun place to hang out with friends, but the food is hit or miss. Since I don't live in VaHi, I can't see myself coming here a lot.
(3)
Nicholas b.

Had the pleasure of visiting during the friends and family week. (four out of five stars because the menu was very limited due to it being an opening event) Overall, great experience... and we already have a meal planned for Tuesday, their first day open to the general public. Food: Wonderful. Just what the Highlands needed. Flavors are inventive, clean and fresh... its a rare occurrence to find great tex mex food that tastes fresh-made from start to finish. We sampled the shrimp ceviche with habanero pepper (perfect, tender, light and fresh... only complaint was it is served with crackers - would have likes chips or tortilla strips instead), bacon taquittos with spicy bean dip (absolutely, hands down, one of the tastiest things Ive had in a while... I mean, crispy fried, bacon, cheese, bean dip and green chilies... does it get any better?). Drink: We tried the frozen margarita and, our favorite, the frozen Mojitto. Both were very tasty (and very strong... one of each and we were plastered) Interior: The redesign of the restaurant was handled very well... respect for open space was paid quite well and the restaurant has much more of a large communal feel. Murals on the walls and light fixtures tie everything together just perfectly. Oh, another very cool aspect is the walk up window on the front patio, where you can place and pick up togo food orders, and chill on the patio with a margarita while you wait... very convenient.
(4)
Kelly H.

Love this place. For some reason I'm just really attracted to the atmospher I don't know what it is but i just really turns me on. It's amazing. I'm also in love with their salsa....i probably get up about 10 times to refill my lil cup with more salsa. I always order the red chili tacos......soo good. I ordered the green chili enchilada once but had them take it back because it looked like what the h***. So i stick with my red chili tacos and the chips and salsa.....so bomb.....so addicting. The only thing I don't like is their lack of side choices....or rather that they don't have any rice as an option...that really upsets me. I don't like any of their options! Wonderful place...i usually go around 8 and don't have a problem getting a table!
(4)
Joel C.

Came here with Lauren S, Leslie E, Chris W, Brent R and Brandon B this past Thursday and had a fantastic time! Everyone pretty much came here on opening night and when they told me they were going to go again, I just had to go! First off...I need to start this review with a WARNING. The fromo's or frozen margaritas are AWESOME...believe me, after 4 (or is it 5) pitchers; we were definitely having a good time in El Taco Land! The food was ok...maybe I was expecting a bit more with all the hype, but I thought the majority of the items that I ordered tasted a bit bland and definitely needed a trip to the salsa bar to give it a kick. I had the queso royale, tilapia taco, and the chile relleno taco. If you like corn, the side of roasted corn is amazing. For dessert, I went ahead and ordered the Mexican Coke Float...it was good but different since they use Coke from Mexico. The atmosphere is a lot of fun. They had a game the night we were there where they gave everyone a chip with a number on it and spun a wheel. If the wheel stopped on your number, you win prizes! Well our table won 1/2 off margaritas for 15 minutes, thus the multiple pitchers we were able to swim in! I would definitely go back and hopefully my update will add another star. Just a really cool place for the VA Highlands!
(3)
Brent R.

I'd heard so much hype about this place, that I think part of my opinion of it is based on the extremely high expectations I walked in the door with. We had extremely friendly, though sometimes slow, service. The food was good and tasted fresh, cooked to order. I especially enjoyed the grilled corn (with mayo), but really, what's not to love about corn and mayo? The tacos were good, but I found the two I had (Pork Carnitas and Rellenos) to be heavy on heat, but not taste. Several people in my group agreed, but others absolutely raved about the fried chicken taco and Mexican Pizza. We also shared several pitchers of frozen Mojitos (Fromojs or something like that). A word of caution, they're quite strong and we left fairly happy. I'd like to see them lower the amount of alcohol in the and then reduce the price some. One of those in a rocks glass was enough to make me a little tipsy. Overall, a nice choice if you're in the neighborhood or a local.
(4)
Vanessa T.

I would really have loved to sit in on the meeting in which they decided upon "The Original The Taco." It makes sense in no language. I have a soft spot for Frida so the mural was well received. The food was fair. The chips are good and the guacamole portion is nowhere near enough. The fried chicken taco can be described as Chick-Fil-A goes to Mexico. It is technically a taco but not really. Still, pretty tasty. The carnitas taco was fresh tasting and closer to authentic. I was not remotely impressed with the salsa bar setup. I am not a fan of buffet aspects of any kind. I don't care if there's a sneeze guard, it's just nasty. I can maybe see myself returning but it's more of a "Plan B" or "Plan C." I don't care if it was deemed overpriced and pretentious, I miss Sala. Queso de Cabra forever, ese.
(3)
Edward L.

Several of my running routes take me right in front of El Taco nearly every day and I finally stopped by Monday evening just as some late summer rain clouds were coming in. We got a table for two on the covered deck, a great place to be in the event of rain, and I had their original Margarita. Well done, I thought to myself. We moved on to some chips and Guacamole which came in a decent presentation and ample serving; and onto the Taco. I went to use the lav and discovered an interesting rojo interior, complete with lucha mural and taxied bull head; I though it was interesting to see the depth that Mexican culture had reached in American conscience, especially this far from the border. I had a Chile Steak taco and Joanna had a Fish Taco; El Taco had a salsa bar with cool flavors (keep that thing stocked, boys!) and we seasoned up while watching Futbol on the patio plasma. It was a cool quiet experience. It felt like a direct competitor to EAV's Holy Taco; from the menu to the atmosphere, with the primary difference being its location on the Va-Hi/Morningside border, thus making it seem more ball cap than biker. I'll be back. Seems like this would be a good place to bring the kids.
(4)
Michael M.

It's not a good sign when a restaurant's name is blatantly ironic. There's nothing "original" about "The Taco." (I'm not going to dignify the given name.) Well, except maybe using flour tortillas like a "short stack" of pancakes. The menu itself in monochromatic, uses small fonts, and doesn't highlight anything -- not even the tacos, which I assumed would be their bread-and-butter. That's why I ordered a grilled chicken and a fried chicken taco (of course, they were out of the fried chicken, but hey, it _was_ almost 10 pm). My small soft taco came out lukewarm and boring, which far outweighed the fact that it was fairly tasty. I finished it in 3-4 bites, mainly just to be polite. One of my friends also had one, and didn't even finish half. 98% of our "Mexican fries" went uneaten, and I don't think anyone in our group of 5 truly enjoyed their food (I was the only one that finished). The chips were by far the best part, cooked onsite and coated with lime salt. I didn't have a specialty drink, but who cares about those anyway? One possible highlight could be the Mexican Coke Float, so named because they use Coke imported from Mexico. (Quick Coke lesson: Coke bottled outside the U.S. uses sugar as the sweetener instead of corn syrup. That's the true original formula, but it costs more than using corn syrup.) I didn't get one, even though the waitress tried to upsell us on it pretty hard, even after requesting the check, by giving all 5 of us an individual dessert menu. Overall, this place is best for an after-work drink (no food but the chips) if you wanted a change of pace; or if you lived in the neighborhood, it might be ok for a nightcap. But hurry up. I give this place through February/March.
(2)
Layne B.

Not sure what the big deal about this place is. The mexican food is better... everywhere else in town. Even Caramba Cafe is better; and that is scary. I felt like I was at Don Pablo's or Chili's. The parents seem to like it alot. So, that should be a give away on what type of atmosphere it is. There were actually servers going around singing happy birthday. And, a raffle every hour for free stuff. Oh wait, maybe I went to Chuck E. Cheese by accident. They took the slick modern interior that was Sala, and junked it up. Too bad; I was really looking forward to going here. One positive note. The bartenders there are super nice. That is what gives this place 2 stars.
(2)
Tressi J.

Like the previous reviewer, I chuckled at the name. Then I chuckled more upon entering and noticing a huge mural with a sign depicting immigrants running for the border. As for the food, it was decent. It was very inexpensive, which was good. None of the tacos bowled me over, but I did like the salsa. I'd give it another try, but Taqueria Del Sol is my first choice for food like this.
(3)
louis n.

The Original El Taco was previously "Sala". The sleek white interior design has been downgraded to look like a run-down shack. Don't get me wrong, it takes a lot of hard work and money to make something look like a dump. The margaritas are watered down and the mojitos are far from "famous". The food, fried chicken taco and pork belly taco, make up for the lack of elegance and style highly missed when "Sala" closed their doors. Don't skimp on the Salsa Bar. Ignore the small ramekins beside the bar. Grab your side plate and load up!
(4)
Sarah B.

We went to The Original El Taco a few weeks ago and plan on going again tonight. I must admit we were a bit skeptical and were expecting it to be overpriced but decent. I really enjoyed the tacos and thought they were really tasty. The atmosphere was a ton of fun. Every table gets a handful of chips with numbers, then on the half hour or so, they turn a huge wheel at the bar. If your number is called you get a free treat like guacamole and chips or something. The price is very reasonable and the tacos are just as good as Taqueria without the wait. We still have a good time with the name of this restaurant, which is a bit pompous and silly The Original "The Taco"... just sounds like a spoof, which is maybe the point. But we'll be going back for seconds and thirds!
(4)
Rob P.

This may be my favorite restaurant in Atlanta. Tacos are perfect. The sloppy joe sandwich is ridic. The corn is heavenly. Never had a bad thing here. Can't get enough.
(5)
Marie P.

Alright, it's not that Yelp really needs another review of El Taco but I must say, I've been here several times already (it's really close to my house) but tonight I finally tried a fajita salad with the cumin and scallion chicken. Seriously, I can't remember the last time I have chicken this good. It was perfect. Very flavorful, especially the crispy skin and it was cooked flawlessly. It was amazing. I hate the salsa crudo because I think it tastes like grapes and, well, I hate grapes, so I wasn't too excited that my salad was garnished with it. But it was super cold and crunchy, the ranch dressing didn't drown the lettuce or the flavors, so I dig it. But that chicken, man, it totally made my night. And made up for my crappy day. So thanks, El Taco. :-D And due to my laziness, here's a list of stuff I like about this place: - Frozen mojito. Oh yes. It's amazing. - Refried black beans. I'm not usually a fan of refried beans, but these made me fall in love. - Lime salted chips. Especially the ones with LOTS of lime-salt. - Bacon Cheese Flautas. Spicy as hell but really yummy! Too bad you only get two...the bean dip that comes along is tasty with the chips as well - The pork belly taco & the tilapia taco. I fantasize about the pork belly sometimes. - Food comes out fast. This is especially handy since there are always families with their critters. Don't get me wrong, I like kids, but after teaching them all afternoon, I really just want to enjoy my dinner in relative peace. The servers are a hit-or-miss. The first time I went, our server was great, very attentive. But the last couple of times, they've been space cadets and just seem to disappear! Even when it's not particularly busy. Tonight especially, I was waiting at my table for several minutes before someone came by to even bring the water jug. Whatever...... Go on a week day and you won't have to wait. Also, this happened to me one night: the place was pretty slammed and the host said it would be a 30 minute wait, but dang it, I really wanted my pork belly, so I stuck it out. I grabbed a drink from the bar and not even 10 minutes later, I had a table. I believe they were telling customers the wait was that long to turn people away. It worked...several people did leave after hearing they'd have to wait that long. So, I can't guarantee it will always be like that, but that's what happened to me!
(4)
Adam R.

I came here for an event and was not really impressed. I am the last person qualified to answer questions about Mexican food, as I cannot stand it, but I do like the drinks. The two dollar beers were quite a deal. I had a few of those, but no food. I was just getting over a cold and did not want to make it worse. I have no complaints about the drinks though. It is pretty spacious inside but there is nothing authentic about this place. The wall paintings are a little over the top, but not too bad. It just seemed like a lot of new places that have popped up lately that just act like they are better than they are. I liked the wheel idea, but they only spun it twice while I was there. Given that it was a special event, I guess I expected them to do it more. Just seems like an average place to me. I may go back and try some more of the drinks but that is about it.
(2)
Advaitin s.

My first time there last weekend and I liked it a lot. The decor and the ambience was great, although the bar with stools on either side running through the middle of the dining room was a bit off-putting. We tried the chicken, and fish tacos and the mexican pizzas. The tacos were great, the chicken and fish full of flavor and succulent. The pizza...it was kind of blah...nothing remarkably mexican about it.
(4)
Roy K.

I am biased - I could eat taco's for every meal but don't do to the fear of public rejection. This place has been consistently good in my mind and fairly priced for an in town, bar-esque joint. Nice wait staff, bar, etc. Beer - not the best menu around but most people are drinking margaritas instead. Tacos - good choices and all the ones I have had are good. I like Fish Taco's alot and find that this one is good but very different than some of the others around town.
(5)
Joel D.

I guess its time to write my review now that I have sobered up from the pitchers of FroMos... We had a party of 5 on a Friday night, so I did call ahead seating - and still had to wait about an hour (arrived at 8). I guess that is a good thing for the restaurant because it was crowded and stayed crowded. The wait did give us time to put down the first pitcher. The Frozen Mojitos (FroMos) are delicious and really strong. I'm not sure how both f those statements can be true, but i assure you they are. And at $30/pitcher, they aren't cheap, but I would say they are worth it. Cheese Dip: Te cheese dip was good - but standard white cheese dip (not that there is anything wrong with that). I did feel like the portion was a bit small and didn't notice anything special about the "lime salted" chips. The salsa bar was a nice addition though Bacon & Cheese Flautas 2 flautas stuck in a cup of refried been dip. I liked these. Possibly a bit greasy, but I guess thats to be expected from a flauta that has cheese and bacon in it Fried Chicken Taco Delicious! Chicken was tender and tasty. The corn with lime mayo (which i was skeptical of - I HATE mayo) really made the dish I don't recall what the rest of my group had (damn you second pitcher of FroMos), but everyone thought it was really good. Most importantly, we all had a blast. One of our group won a free FroMo from the wheel. This has to be one of the most fun restaurants I have ever been to. I hope it remains as fun after the NEW RESTAURANT OMG!!! buzz dies down.
(4)
Jessica C.

Went here with a group and they were very accommodating. We were there mostly for margaritas not food but did get chips and gauc and a couple tacos. I'd say the tacos were disappointingly empty...like only 30% full. The guac portions are also pretty small. We were convinced to get the "skinny" margarita pitchers even though they're $8 and they were delicious. However, I'm pretty sure there was no or verrrry little alcohol in them. Our group downed 5 pitchers and we were all dead sober the whole night. That's about 25 drinks among 7 girls and, as I mentioned, we didn't have much dinner. The best part is that El Taco will split your checks even when you share items like pitchers and guac.
(3)
Scott A.

Visiting a restaurant during its first few days of operation is a two-edged sword. You risk having an experience marred by typical opening calamities, but you also get to be one the first to discover Atlanta's newest "find". My dining party and I got the best of both worlds. Not only did the service run as smoothly as if the restaurant had been in operation for years, but we felt fortunate to have found this gem before it becomes public knowledge. Word must already be out, however, because the place, as they say, was hopping! The decor surpassed anything that has been attempted in this cuisine realm. It is funky without being kitschy. It is whimsical without being overbearing. It is a comfortable setting creating a mood that enhances the experience rather than detracting from it. Go there. You will see what I mean. We ordered the Frozen Mojitos and, as other yelpers will concur, found them to be wickedly tasteful. The menu is manageable and can be navigated without requiring assistance from your server. I had to laugh at an earlier yelper who complained bitterly about the menu fonts and lack of highlights that he observed on opening night, and I would direct him to Waffle House, where he will find great delight at the colorful menus and pretty pictures. I ordered the Mexican Pizza and not only was it delicious, the portion was so large I had some to take home. My dining companion ordered the fried chicken taco and exclaimed he was in taco heaven. Of course we had to try to Mexican Coke Float just to see what a Coke imported INTO Atlanta would taste like. A new twist on an old favorite. I look forward to further explorations of the menu on future visits, of which there will be plenty. The Original El Taco will undoubtedly become a Virginia Highland institution; a favorite of both the local community as well as those who will come in from the suburbs to escape the cookie cutter Mexican fare that is seen everywhere.
(5)
Kristen G.

Great ambiance, friendly waiters, great with groups & the fried chicken tacos are delish! Also, lots of available parking for the Highlands. It's a great place for a laid back group meal. Definitely check out this VH gem.
(5)
Mike C.

Food pretty good, service bad. I know a lot of folks like this place, and we probably just hit a bad day, but it was a very bad day. There were only 5 or 6 tables of folks there but the 3 servers were having trouble keeping up with those. Our order was wrong. Twice. When they did bring my 10 year olds order it seemed to be intentially over salted. Like spite for have to remake an order 3 times? Not because we were picky, because they brought the entirely wrong item. Then they decided that I really didn't need 3 tacos, I only needed 2 (I guess I'm too fat). Anyway, we won't be back. Oh, yeah. It took 3 trips to get the bill straight. With so many great tacos in town, why bother with this joint.
(2)
Anna S.

Skip this place. There are tons of great restaurants in the area and also in Atlanta in general. In fairness to El Taco, I've only had the salad, but I was not a fan at all. At its best, it was bland; at its worst, it tasted funky (and not funky in a good way). I miss Sala!
(2)
J H.

We've been a couple of times now and like it a lot. It's almost as cheap as Taqueria Del Sol, but you actually get service, you don't have to stand in a horrible line, and the food is better. The guacamole dip is great. They actually added some seasoning to it and the chips, which a lot of places forget or don't care to do. As for the tacos, I'm a big fan of the grilled chicken with fried jalapenos, the pork carnitas, and especially the fried chicken tacos with corn relish. All delicious. The tacos are fairly dry (no loaded down with wet salsas, etc) but don't suffer a bit for it. I was not pleased with the chorizo taco. It tasted weird, like I was eating plantains in a tortilla or something. I like my chorizo moist and spicy, and this just wasn't. The apple pie dessert is well worth the splurge. Service was friendly. Overall this place is a huge improvement over the pretentious and overpriced Sala that was previously in the space. The only other negatives I could mention would be the iced tea, which tasted powdered. Otherwise I will happily pas the block long line of strollers at Taqueria and come here often.
(4)
Michael F.

The Good - fried fish taco! The Bad - you have a salsa bar but you have to buy the "house" salsa? Huh? The Cheesy - literally - green chili enchiladas had huge potential with just the right amount of cheese and meat... but they took a backseat to gratuitous amounts of sauce.
(3)
Nishant B.

had the pleasure of stumbling upon this highlands bar on the 26th. i am very pleased to report that in the spirit of 'taqueria del sol' and 'twisted taco' this place delivers both a great social atmosphere and well prepared food. unfortunately, we only had the tacos. however the pork was well marinated and cooked, chicken fine and our waitress nikki's (?) recommendation of the fried chicken taco was spot on. the queso was great, the salsa stations had a lot of very good choices and our meal was enjoyed by all. keep it up justin, definitely a mainstay on my atlanta rotation. good stuff!! open up a taco stand so we can swing by after drinking!!
(5)
Jakim H.

I went to El Taco a delicious pseudo Mexican joint in the Highlands. I got my usual deal, two Fried Chicken Tacos with Sweet Corn Salsa, a Red Chile Steak taco, and this time i ventured out and ordered Queso Royale. My accomplice ordered a Chorizo taco with radishes and something ( I've had it the texture is unpleasant to me), and a BBQ Pork Taco (same ingredients as Taqueria Del Sol and I can't pick a winner because I am biased to the TDS). The Deal Chicken Taco * Delicious * Chicken is tender a perfectly salted * Sweet corn salsa balances the dish out and the dish * Throw some Queso on that B**** Red Chile * Tender Steak * Great Flavor * Nothing Special though Queso Royale * Overpriced * supposed to come with Chorizo there were about 4 small pieces (Whackness) Drinks * Above Par drinks * Mojito is okay Pura Vida has a better one by far ( Pura Vida uses limes El Taco Lime Juice (lame) * One beer on Draft but that's okay its Dos Equis * House Margarita is okay (Boneyard Cantina's is better but not worht the drive). My favorite Margarita - 1800 Resperado, Cointreau, and any home made sour mix non of that bottle premade crap. Enjoy the highlands a great place to kick it.
(3)
Josh B.

I'd give this place 1.5 stars if it were an option. This place is NOT terrible though. The service was good and the food didn't make me sick. My main beef: the quality of the food does not stand up to the price. I can get a much better taco at Taqueria Del Sol for nearly half the price. I'm probably capable of making everything I had better at my own home. To speak of the food more specifically, everything seemed a little off-balance. The nachos were a little over-salted. The guacamole was grocery-store fare even though it ran around $6. The fried chicken tacos were far too flavorful but the pork tacos needed some dipping sauce. It's just not working as far as food quality goes. Chop the price of everything in half, and I might give this place 3 stars.
(2)
MARK T.

Little foods in the foods are freshed. Tacos is not great. But tacos is good still. Great restaurant for having your some childrens to eat with.
(3)
Nicole V.

Usually always get an order to-go and Monday was no different, but Brandon got me in the door with a Niki "RITA" in hand. 2 drinks later I'm an FGR card member and glowing with delight . Yummy!!! :D
(4)
Michael B.

Expect to wait a LONG time if you have more than four people on a Friday or Saturday night. We waited for about an hour and a half on a Friday night when we had six people. You can grab a drink at the bar while you wait, but be careful. Expect to pay FORTY-TWO DOLLARS for a pitcher of margarita. It was good, but not $42 good. The bartender (I believe his name was Brandon) was great. There were a ton of people, but it never took long to get a drink and he was very friendly. After being seated, a quick look at the menu and you'll realize that the food is priced pretty reasonably. The fried fish and fried chicken tacos were my favorite. The guacamole dip was excellent and, they have some of the best chips I've ever had at a restaurant. They are seasoned with some kind of lime salt or something. Our server, Tisa, was very helpful and cool. She kept us happy and needing nothing. I'll be back to this place, but I'll call ahead first and steer clear of the margarita pitcher. Cheers.
(3)
TJ M.

It's probably more like 3.5 stars than 4, but I've given other taco places around here the same sort of grade. In fact, I'd give this place a tie with Raging Burrito. Been here twice now. I'm a fan of their tacos. I think I like the red chili steak taco the most. I'm also a fan of their green chili chicken enchiladas. Not typical enchiladas like I'll get at most places. The green chili is on the thick side and they put corn inside the enchilada. What can I say? It works. The margaritas are good. Nothing particularly special about them, but worth ordering if you're in the mood. Pretty good guacamole and chips. They add some sort of seasoning to the chips, which was nice. They spin a wheel of fortune type of thing at the top of every hour. Kind of fun if a little on the cheezy side. You'll have to find parking on the street, most likely. It's usually not too hard, and it's free. One word of caution: One of my friends who prefers Chilis as their "Mexican" food of choice, didn't care for this place. I blame her palate, lol! My other friends enjoyed it, however. Oh and one of my friends ordered the octopus and didn't care for it.
(4)
tami l.

So the girls and i decided to have a girls' night dinner here. a wednesday night. you can only make reservations 30 minutes prior to arrival. i recall being seated no more than 5-10 minutes after reservation time. our server, mike, was awesome! i ordered/tasted: 1. chips & salsa: just okay. salsa sweet and didn't taste super-fresh to me. 2. chips & queso: good. not my favorite. but me likey. hard to mess up hot cheese. 3. fried chicken taco: also has corn and sauce in the mix. goooooooood. 4. steak taco: a bit salty. served with li'l bits of fried onion in the mix. good. 5. fish taco: no longer tilapia. another fish. served with sprouts in the mix. good. 6. refried beans: just ok. 7. fried apple pie!!!!!! that's what brought my rating over to the next star! it's a little thing. but yuuuuuuuummy! more like an apple turnover served with a side of cinnamon ice cream. it was deeee-lish! they accidentally gave me the fish taco instead of the chicken. i told mike and told him not to worry about it. i'd eat the fish taco just happily. well, he came back a few minutes later with my chicken and apologized again. it was good. i liked it. it won't be my first pick next time, but i'll eat there again one day. overall, i'd rather eat at taqueria del sol!
(3)
kip s.

I had the green chili chicken enchiladas. The green chili sauce was tasteless. The chicken was really good quality, but the creamy corn stuffing was kind of bland. the dish had a nice presentation and was served nice and hot. I'm not sure why they did not serve chip and salsa. I guess you have to order it. My son had the cheese and bean quesadillas. I had a bite and they were good. We shared his chips and I went to the salsa bar. The green chili sauce was bland and the tomato roma fresco sauce was bland. I've eaten here about six times. Every visit I've found the food to be very fresh, but missing flavor. Chips on my son's platter were of good quality (home made). Service was awesome and efficient. the atmosphere is really fun and comfortable. Nice to be able to park for fee and not valet or pay for parking.
(2)
Yasmine B.

One of my go to spots - great tacos and the frozen mojitos are a MUST HAVE. Always consistently delicious.
(5)
Sheek T.

love the atmosphere here. came in on a friday night. it was pretty packed. they had games where you could win free food or something. we sat outside which was really nice. great service! the cheese dip was awesome! i can't remember what I ate but I know I enjoyed all of it and more than likely I ate tacos. would definitely go back and refer a friend.
(5)
Ray M.

The only reason I'm giving it 3 stars is because it's my 1st visit. Otherwise I could easily give it 4 stars . Tacos were delicious especially the chicken and steak . Drinks were potent and we'll worth the money. My bestie drank the mojito and I had the sangria . No complaints will be back !
(3)
Alexandra P.

I really enjoyed the chips and the fried chicken taco. The carnitas taco tasted off to me. I sat at the bar and the service was very fast. There were many families there and one birthday party.
(4)
Brittany D.

A fun environment inside and outside! The chips were excellent (and a large contributor to my assessment of this, and any, Mecican restaurant), and the salsa bar made that aspect of the meal even better. The tacos were delicious and creative, and I really enjoyed the guacamole. Every hour in the hour, they spin a wheel to give on patron the chance to win free dessert. The only downside: it's not open for lunch.
(4)
Mick D.

I've had this place bookmarked from some time. Once I walked into the restaurant, I had a vague memory of visiting once before (before I started yelping) and being not-so-impressed. But I'm glad I visited again. Fifth Group maintains their tradition of excellence here, without the typical Fifth Group price points. (That was intentional. They've succeeded.) I sat at the bar, and found service to be fast and efficient. I wanted for nothing. The bartenders were friendly, and at one bartender's suggestion, I ordered the Chile Relleno and a Chorizo taco. He had said the relleno would be tasty, but not very large. This was certainly true. And the taco was also very good. Next time, I may just stick with a plate of tacos. Overall, everything was tasty. And my meal could have used more heat. Sometimes, you just got to have a good after-burn, you know? The chese dip is a clear winner. This isn't your average tex-mex cheese dip. And the chips that come with it are lightly seasoned with something other than salt. Addictively good. I'll happily go back. Holler if you're coming with.
(4)
Michael T.

Excellent as always!
(4)
Lianne S.

The tacos here are so tasty but today I tried the enchiladas...cheese and poblano with mole sauce. So tasty! The queso royale was also yummy. Love cheese and chorizo!
(4)
Nick G.

I saw this place on Atlanta Eats, it seemed different and the food was well planned yet simple. We went there a few weeks ago and were not disappointed! They instantly gave us a couple poker chips which had us curious, apparently they give away prizes on the hour if your number is called. Beyond that the food was very good, lots of flavor and you can tell that the chef took the time to create food that stands apart.
(5)
Shawn F.

Went in for a late night dinner and left satisfied. Overall, we had a pretty good meal. The service was great, super helpful and friendly waiter. The food however was just okay. The Mexican pizza was pretty good. We ordered it with chicken and the chicken was pretty dried out. The pizza was tasty and very filling but the chicken not so good. The three tacos we ordered were the smoked chicken, chicken tender and the chalkboard special- the clam strip taco. Our favorite was the clam strip taco. As a native from New England, I know my clam strips and these were pretty darn good. They added some capers and green tarter mayo sauce and it was delicious. The other two tacos were just whatever. The smoked chicken taco was pretty dry and not so flavorful. The chicken tender taco was better than the smoked chicken taco. However, neither were too great. I liked the salsa bar, they had some pretty tasty salsas on there. However, note that chips are extra charge, but you can go to the salsa bar without ordering chips and use the salsa on your meals. Overall, the prices are okay, the service was great, but the food was just okay. They need to work on the quality and freshness of their food. Maybe it was because it was a Sunday night an hour before closing but still no excuse, the chicken should not be dry like that. There's much better Mexican places in the area, I wouldn't rush back here by any means.
(3)
Megan K.

So this is a review based solely on the smoked chicken taco. SO SO GOOD. I'll be back just because of it. The salsa is good too. Steak taco was decent and carnitas were ok - a bit dry. This is a 3.5 star place for me but those smoked chicken tacos made me round up.
(4)
Andrea M.

The atmosphere here is very cozy and relaxing. The food was pretty good overall. I had the hanger steak pinchos. It was good, but so not worth the $8.50 (take a look at my picture and you will see why.) If I come back, I will most definitely give the tacos a try. My friends and I also shared the queso royale. It was pretty good except they could have added less salt. The chips were seasoned with something that made it delicious all by itself so it was something good to nibble on while we enjoyed the atmosphere. The overall service was decent. I have seen speedier service elsewhere, but it wasn't bad by any means. I especially like having the option of sitting outside (would recommend if it's a nice day out). By the way, parking is across the street in an empty parking lot.
(3)
Eliane P.

Good overall...BUT, pleaae consider offeribg basic things one expects to fjnd jn a Mexican restaurant such as tres leches and empanadas without cheese.
(3)
Lindsay B.

Honestly don't understand all of these great reviews on the food. I went here after reading Yelp reviews that the place is great, but not authentic. Not only is it not authentic, it's not that good. The chips have some sort of spicy seasoning on them, and the salsa was just okay. I had the fajitas, and the chicken was pretty good, but certainly not worth the price. Very expensive for the quality of food received. And it all came with flour tortillas, not corn. It seemed like a lot of people came here with their kids, which makes sense. Probably the only way I'd go back is to bring a family. That being said, the noise level was loud with all the kids. It was better outside on the patio. No one explained the tokens/taco wheel to us. I just read about it on Yelp. If you're going to have a fun way for people to win prizes (especially with mediocre food), it might be good to tell customers about it instead of assuming everyone knows about it coming in. Would have made my experience better to try and win something.
(2)
Bridget S.

Being gluten & dairy free going out to dinner can be a real challenge. Waitstaff have no idea what it means & I eat a lot of chicken & fish with veggies. But El Taco was different, they had a full gluten free menu & even a gluten free beer! The service was very fast, the grilled chicken taco was the best thing is eaten in weeks. Next time I want to make a point to try their salsa bar!
(4)
Juan M.

Know why I like these guys? I mean, besides the fact that I can walk there, they have Nacho Libre night on Thursdays and offer gluten free beer after we asked them to (and the best one - Daura)? Check out the e-mail I just got: Hi Juan, It was good to see you and the family the other night. As you guys typically come in on Thursdays, I wanted to let you know that this Thursday 5/29, we will be closed for a private event at 8PM. We will seat the last guest at 8, so that means no nachos this week. :( I just hated the idea of you coming all the way to the restaurant to find out we were closed. After tomorrow, it will be business as normal. We hope to see you soon! Thanks! Katie McCormick, General Manager - The Original El Taco 'Nuff said!!!
(5)
Leslie T.

Fantastic steak tacos! The meat is lean and has just the right amount of flavor with the fried onions they sprinkle on top. Mmmm...and the fried chicken tacos topped with yummy corn. They can't be beat!
(5)
John B.

El Taco will make you feel stupid for not eating here earlier in life. They are delicious, their drink prices reasonable and taco prices acceptable. The food: exceptionally good and tasty. Check it out next time your are in ViHi.
(4)
Kelsey F.

Unassuming as it may be, El Taco really won me over on a recent Tuesday night. I went with a friend to celebrate her birthday. We arrived way earlier than the rest of the group so we sat at the bar for some chips, salsa and a pitcher of their delicious (but almost too sweet) margaritas on the rocks. The bar tenders are a spunky group of guys who made sure we had everything we needed as quick as possible. Fair warning, the chips and salsa are pretty addicting. Though you have to pay $2.50 for them, when we moved from the bar to the table our waitress brought us more chips and salsa to be enjoyed by the whole group for no extra cost. The drinks and food are quite tasty at El Taco. Margaritas and mojitos come on the rocks or frozen. They also have a skinny option (for $3 more) that I assume is made with splenda or something of the sort. After all the chips, we weren't too hungry. I ordered the veggie taco and the pork carnitas taco. Both were excellent especially compared to some other tacos I've had recently. The two tacos set me back $6- not a bad deal. One dinning companion got the steak salad which looked quite delicious. I also spotted a Mexican pizza across the room that looked extra good. There is a salsa bar in the corner with lots of interesting taco toppers to sample. The atmosphere is casual and friendly with a few fun added bonuses. When you sit down you will get tokens with numbers on them. Once every hour they spin a magical wheel and the number it lands on wins a prize like free salsa, drinks, desserts or bar swag. We were there for a couple of spins, but no luck this time. Also, for a Tuesday night El Taco was really crowded with a range of patrons. El Taco shares their parking lot with DBA. On weekend nights, this little lot can get really crowded. There is also parking available on the surrounding streets and in a few other near by lots.
(4)
Shyam S.

My girlfriend and I visited El Taco twice and both times were extremely happy with our food. This may not be Mexican, as much as it is Mexican fusion, but the food is quality. The Mexican pizza is a meal in itself and is probably 10x bigger than the Taco Bell Mexican pizza if that is your frame of reference (think of HUGE nachos). I loved the salsa bar and especially the peanut-sauce inspired salsa (it is delicious). All the tacos are great, but they have a marinated steak dish on a skewer that is soft and delicious and flavorful and amazing. All the food is top-notch except for the salted cod fritters.
(5)
M H.

This place is great and I can't believe I've just driven by it in the past- no more! My husband got the chile relleno- best he's ever had, and the blt taco. I got the fried fish taco and the fried chicken taco- both were excellent. We sat outside, had a great waiter (thanks Mark!) and all in all a great experience.
(5)
Robert P.

I went here for the first time last night and I definitely plan to return. The patio is perfect; not too noisy and great when the weather is as nice as it was yesterday. The food was quite good too. The smoked chicken taco was delicious and I heartily recommend it. The beef empanada special was decent, but not that memorable. The margaritas are alright - not the best I've had, but still sufficiently strong and good. Also fun is their "lottery." Everyone gets a token when they are seated and every hour some lucky customer wins something if their token is called. The prizes range from free drinks to free swag. I did not win sadly, but perhaps next time!
(4)
Kirsten G.

Every time I visit my sister in Atlanta, El Taco is on the agenda- the guacamole is so flavorful and the frozen mojitos are out of this world! The service is lovely and the atmosphere is fun and inviting. Chef Jack always treats us like royalty!
(5)
BS K.

My husband I usually venture out when the weathers nice. Although I wasn't in a Mexican mood that quickly changed. Things st rated off shackle because I w anted out side seating and non available. Finally we were seated inside with a great waiter. Then an outside seat became availed and we moved outside. Our outside waitress started off slow. The food and drink recommendations were awesome. The rio appetizer was a hit in addition to the fried chicken taco and the steak kabob was excellent. Perfectly cooked. We will b back very soon,
(4)
Jai Veer Singh J.

This restaurant won't serve you boring tacos, instead their menu contains lots of unusual items with very unique flavors including the delicious fried chicken or smoked chicken tacos and a Mexican veggie pizza. We were pleased with the quality and the price of the food and enjoyed these tacos with twist.
(4)
Laura P.

I love the tacos; smoked or fried chicken and the steak taco. They are fantastic, not authentic; but fantastic. The only thing I do not like is that with any other 'Mexican' place you get chips; not here. The service has always been good and the prize wheel is great.
(4)
Matthew C.

This place has really grown on me over the past few years. It's quick, good and relatively cheap. The chips and salsa are really good. The margaritas are a little too sweet for my tastes, but still enjoyable, as they have tequila in them. I usually order a few tacos and have tried most of them and have never had a bad one. They have a ton of hot sauces, some of which result in turning red, public sweating and several hours of misery. Ghost pepper sauce is never a good decision.
(4)
Ashley F.

We walk here a lot to have margaritas. We've learned the house margarita is really freakin' tasty so no need to top shelf it here unless you really really want to. Their margaritas are good and good-n-strong. :) I think the food is better than average here but I just wish it was local/farm fresh. I like that they offer a vegetarian Mexican pizza and enjoy the guac and salsa bar too. They also have a couple of vegetarian tacos, but they switch up the vegetarian offering often enough to make them an interesting choice for me. With that said, it is a decent neighborhood eatery. It is usually quite busy and often quite LOUD so don't expect to have a sweet intimate conversation while dining. Families seem to be happy eating here too - haven't perused the kid menu...
(4)
Marta T.

Nice vibes, great tacos, and good service. However, I've never been to a Mexican restaurant where you get a basket of chips and have to pay for the salsa...also, cheese should be complementary on tacos. Other than that, the scene is cute for a night out, location is great, and the bar is nice as well. Please invest in some margarita glasses as well.
(2)
Tanya E.

Service: amazing Mark was my server and recommended the smoke chicken taco which was amazing. He was very attentive. Food: Smoked chicken taco was my fav. It was amazing. The crunchy jalapeÃ±os and sauce and the flavorful chicken. A winner. Fried chicken taco also very good. Fried fish- umm not so much. I love a good fish taco but this one was too crunchy and greasy. Hence one less star. Otherwise, would've been. 5 star experience. They even put me at the only table with an outlet because my phone battery was dying. Great covered patio. It's pouring rain but I'm still able to enjoy being outside.
(4)
Kait M.

The bar pours great drinks and the food is awesome! Prices were affordable and portions were the perfect size (not too big that I felt stuffed after eating it all). Took off one star because it took them forever to call our name when we were waiting at the bar. She said that she had called our name, but we didn't respond (we were about 8 feet from the front). Our spot was given away twice before we finally sat down (after sharing queso and finishing off our first drink). The atmosphere is fun, especially with the fun token spin. I would go again, just hope we don't have to wait as long.
(4)
Joe K.

I've been to El Taco twice before and my wife's been around 10 times or so. We came down for some of the fried chicken tacos, but they just weren't happening today. No magical crunchiness, the corn wasn't roasted and not up to snuff, and they were just generally deflated. We also ordered a Mexican pizza which itself was ok but the carnitas we ordered for the top of it were so salty they were unpleasant. Tasted like they'd been brined to strongly. Overall a letdown, hope they're not slipping for any particular reason.
(2)
Vicki N.

We came across The Original El Taco on a list of the best tacos in Atlanta via Thrillist. Came here on a Sunday for a very early dinner, so we beat the dinner rush. What's cool is that they give everyone a token with a number on it, and every hour on the hour, they spin a wheel to decide who gets a prize! We didn't win ): I ordered the posole soup and their fried chicken tacos and shared a queso blanco appetizer with the group. Queso Blanco- Love the chile lime seasoning that's dusted on the chips! Ask for more chips if you run out. Posole- This was my first time having posole. It was delish! The soup had a slight heat and was full of hominy, shreds of chicken, avocado and peppers. Fried chicken taco- This taco is served on a flour tortilla with a fried chicken strip and Mexican corn. I loved this taco! The batter on the chicken strip was perfectly seasoned, and the corn was super sweet, just the way I like it. Don't forget about the salsa bar! We definitely didn't see it until after we finished our food haha. Service was excellent! Our waitress even gave us an extra token for being first-timers. She was very helpful with the menu as well. I'd definitely come back here for that taco!
(5)
Ashlye B.

This place sucks on food! The margarita was the focal point of the whole evening. The salsa bar tasted like watered down tomato and hot-sauces. I definitely will not be back.
(1)
Leo F.

The tacos were good I had the fish taco and the veggie taco, the fish one was good, and the frozen mojito was the bomb.com , SO going back
(3)
Marta P.

I love tacos, good tacos. I love fish tacos even more so. Every time I try a new taco joint, I always grab a fish taco, mainly just to see if anyone can stack up to the fish taco at Taqueria del Sol. Every place was unsuccessful...but the fish taco here, OH MAN. It comes damn close. The fish is nice and juicy, fried just enough. The briny mayo and picked chiles complement it perfectly. It's a real winner! The other tacos I tried were the pork carnitas and mushroom. Both were equally as excellent. Usually veggie tacos are pretty disappointing, but the mushroom taco was flavorful and full of texture. I highly recommend it for any vegetarian. The restaurant itself is great. There's ample parking on the side of the building, a nice patio, and very friendly staff. The mojitos are extra cold and perfect for a hot afternoon. It's a great spot for families and date nights alike.
(5)
Keith B.

Food was good. I had the Short rib enchiladas, Mexican grilled corn & grilled scallions. Service was good but I think the portion size should be greater. I would definitely go back.
(4)
Keith B.

Really Good We went for an early dinner and sat in the open patio area. The place was remarkably busy with young families and it had a boisterous feel. Service was great with a helpful and friendly waiter. There is a nice selection of Margaritas. I enjoyed the one with grapefruit. The two of us shared a nice large salad and the 5-taco platter. All the tacos were really good. The smoked chicken and the fish tacos were outstanding. I'm getting hungry just thinking about them! The fried apple pie with cinnamon ice cream was also quite good, although the ice cream needed a little more spice. Prices were very reasonable.
(4)
Shikha K.

This place is delicious, but it definitely isn't authentic Mexican food. If you come in aware of that, you will love this place. It is a fun environment and all the waiters are very friendly. You get tokens when you walk in, and every hour they spin a wheel for free giveaways. You can win menu items such as free nachos or a free tequila shot. The atmosphere is energetic, and it is great for groups! I love this place and frequent here often, this only reason I gave it 3 star is because it definitely is not authentic mexican food. Nonetheless, it is delicious and has a kick-ass salsa bar. My favorite dish: the cheese and poblano enchiladas in red chili sauce.
(4)
Hope B.

I loved this place. I'm so glad we chose this restaurant today because I had been waiting to eat here since I moved here last September. I was looking forward to the frozen mojito so much! As soon as we came in, we got seated with a great waitress and great service!!! Chips, salsa, & salsa bar too! They were so great! The frozen mojitos hat I had been dying to try were AMAZING. (I got 3, plus the strawberry one! So good!) I'd say probably the best mojito I've ever had, even better frozen!! and also strong for such a great price of under $7. Tacos were AMAZING!!! I got the fried chicken taco and the smoked chicken taco. Soooo delicious. Overall i give this place 100% and outstanding. We had such a great time. No complaints at all. Cannot wait to come back! :)
(5)
Sara M.

As a big fan of Fifth Group's other restaurants, I'd been wanting to check out El Taco for a while now. Finally got around to it this weekend. Yay! Here's a rundown of the food I had: Queso: So good. Cheesy and thick, my tortilla chips got a nice coating with just a quick dip. Guacamole: Standard. Not mind-blowing but pretty solid. Salsa: Had a good smokey taste with slight spice. Chips: Wasn't a huge fan of the seasoning blend and it was distributed a bit unevenly. Smoked chicken taco: The chicken was excellent! Great smoked flavor, and there were nice big chucks of it in the taco. Came with what looked like fried jalapeÃ±o slices. Steak taco: It was fine, pretty middle-of-the-road. Like the previous taco, a good amount of meat. Also came with crispy onions, which were good. Braised pork belly taco: This was a really tasty taco. Came with ricotta made with goat's milk. Also, I think this one may have been a special. Fried apple pie: Pie was good, the dulce de leche & cinnamon ice cream was even better. I could take down a pint of that stuff easy. Frozen mojito: Not normally a cocktail drinker and almost never a frozen cocktail drinker, but I tried this at the recommendation of my dining companion. These are delicious and dangerous. I have a general objection to paying more than $3 for a taco and these were between $3;75 and $4. I concede that these tacos were better than others I've had in the same price range but I still grumbled slightly when I saw the prices. But overall, I thought prices were okay. Service was really good. We had the bartender taking care of us and he was friendly and very patient, especially once those mojitos started kicking in and we got a little silly. The manager also came by to chat with us a bit. I think this is going to be part of my day drinking rotation, although it's also a fine spot for lunch or dinner. But the nice patio, great drinks, and friendly staff make this an ideal location to hang out with friends all afternoon.
(4)
Vicky J.

Inside can be loud, but the patio is fabulous. If you like sangria and non traditional tacos, this is the place for you. I trying to make it here once a week. It is a great place to unwind.
(5)
Michelle T.

This place is fun. I had fun. But my appetite did not. It's not bad, its just not great. The fun is in the drinks and the wheel! They give everyone some number chips and they spin the wheel every hour. My table won an order of queso which was perfect! The queso was good but what made it great was the salsa bar! That's part of the fun too. They have a bar with salsas, sauces and fresh cilantro. I love cilantro and having the ability to do what I want with it is a plus!! But the menu is limited to some tacos, Mexican pizza, enchiladas. There is a board with daily specials. I picked the Salt fish fitters they had but it just tasted like potato balls. I also ordered the chorizo taco and it was okay. I added cilantro to make it better. I tasted the Mexico City grilled corn and the brisket taco and the flavors of both were just eh. Service was great because I was with a picky demanding bunch that often has special requests and the server got everything as everyone ordered and was friendly and fun. I would go there for drinks and a spin of the wheel but I would probably eat before I get there.
(2)
Sky D.

I came across this restaurant on the Atlanta channel showcasing restaurants. Grab a girlfriend and headed over at the first opportunity. I love the ambiance and we were greeted so graciously. We decided to eat outside on the patio/deck. I like the patio but my only qualm is the entry and exit are both off the patio. When we departed, it took a bit of finagling because there was a crowd of customers waiting to be seated. I should point out that I was not feeling well on this particular day. I enjoyed the Original Veggie Mexican Plizza but it would have tasted much better with a meat. My girlfriend and I shared a taco plate which came with 5 tacos, rice and beans (I think). I can't give a conclusive opinion on the tacos because my system was working against me. We enjoyed our server who had a great sense of humor and was very responsive to our needs. They do a drawing here every hour for free food/drinks. I will venture here one day in the future to give it another try.
(3)
Meghna B.

I love this place because the ambiance is nice, the food is great, and there's indoor and outdoor seating. As a vegetarian, I usually get the mole enchiladas with beans and cheese. Their mole is delicious. They also have a veggie taco. I once had the Mexican pizza but it was not as flavorful as the taco/enchilada and came out fairly soggy--so I steer clear of that. We are chips-aholics, and their chips and salsa are great. Chips are crisp and not super oily, and salsa is a roasted tomato with just a little kick. And, I especially like that I can supplement that with the salsa bar which has a habanero for the spice lovers (like me), pico de gallo (not too onion-y) and chopped cilantro (can't ever have too much cilantro!!). The staff has been friendly always, and managers always visit to make sure we're happy. We even won a queso on one of our visits here--they spin a wheel every hour to give away free food/drinks. Great place for dinner, good for groups, and families, parking lot behind (shared with a bunch of places, so can be dicey on busy weekend nights). I only wish they were open during the day!
(4)
Diana S.

We are regulars here and the tacos are OUTSTANDING!!! Fried chicken taco is a MUST have. The patio is nice and the service is AWESOME. Guacamole is always on point and we love getting tokens for the wheel spin. Love the daily specials on the board. I'm always excited to see what the "board" taco is. Be SURE you look at the board!! Definitely our FAVORITE taco place!!!!
(5)
Rachel P.

I love El Taco! As other reviewers have stated, it's not authentic Mexican food, but then, it doesn't purport to be. Come here for a tasty margaritas, delicious tacos, queso, and bottomless tortilla chips. There is also a free salsa bar with pico de gallo, habanero salsa, romesco salsa, salsa verde, cilantro, and limes. You can mix and match on your tacos, or order chips and indulge. El Taco's claim to fame is their prize wheel. Every customer gets a token with a number on it, and every hour they spin the prize wheel. If your number is called, you can win a beer, a pitcher of sangria, an app, or other assorted goodies.
(4)
amanda c.

Went today after church for the first time and loved it! The Skinny Margarita was the perfect way to start off a Sunday Funday. Split the steak fajitas and had a chicken taco. Both were awesome. Service was really good and the atmosphere was relaxed and casual.
(5)
Latoya L.

excelente! Service was quick and friendly. Drinks were super delish and strong! Now onto the tacos, after all, it's called El Taco, duh lol Mushroom taco was pretty good. I give it a 3.5. It had to much citrus and I was looking for savory. Pork taco was about a 3. Something was missing but still really good. The smoked chicken was excellent, you could taste the smokiness and there was a kick. It gets a 4. The fish taco was superb. No frills and to the point. Nicely fried. It gets a 4. And the absolute winner is the fried chicken taco. Holy smokes this thing is good. The corn complimented the chicken nicely and the chicken was seasoned and fried to perfection. Super tender and yummy. I give it a 10/5 lol (can I do that? 200% yep I think I will.)
(5)
Forrest W.

Awesome as always. I love their fried chicken tacos. Great service and a marvelous atmosphere.
(5)
Lavon L.

Loved the fried chicken and the steak tacos. Nice, relaxed atmosphere. Great service.
(5)
Shannon C.

The fried chicken tacos and fish tacos are soooooooooo good. That's all I get when I come here. i can always find a parking space easily when I come here, which is great considering the location. Only thing I don't like is that it's always crowded, and I have to wait awhile to get seated. I like the spin the wheel game they play at the top of every hour. If the wheel stops at your number you get something free off the menu. I haven't won yet.
(5)
Walter R.

In a nutshell, I was not impressed with The Original El Taco. I had back to back taco's completely disintegrate after one or two bites from being waterlogged. The salsa station seemed like a throwback to the Wendy's buffet bar - only much smaller. And the spinning raffle wheel announcements did nothing for me, of course, if I would have won something, I'd be singing a different tune. I can totally see this as a kid friendly place where parents can intoxicate themselves while the children play with their food. Escapism would work well here since there's no shortage of alcoholic options. A robust list of alcohol was highlighted by my waitress - I appreciated her attention to detail.
(2)
Joye L.

Someone seriously gave this restaurant one star because it isn't open for lunch? That's ridiculous! As a true life lover of mexican food I can honestly say this is one of the absolute BEST MEXICAN restaurant around! As for everyone who is comparing this restaurant to Tequieria del Sol, it is less than 5 minutes from where I live and I pass by there on a regular basis to get El Taco. Tequiera is a good cheap mexican restaurant but when it come to taste and innovation, it is light years behind the corn w/ the lime and mayo. You don't even want me to start talking about the queso royale with sauteed onions and peppers or the mexican pizza which is more like heaven on a crispy crust! More salad than pizza, it's light enough not to make you feel heavy but more than enough food to satisfy any appetite. This place is a jewel and I only wish it were closer to where I live.
(5)
Lisa A.

** UPDATE 1/12/09** I have traded emails with a very nice representative of the Fifth Group. While this does not change my rating, it is nice to know they listen to customer feedback! I will revisit El Taco at some point, as I hope that I was just there on a "Off Night." We went to The Original El Taco the day after Christmas. We decided at the last minute, so we did not have a reservation. When we arrived, the place had a lot of open tables, but the hostess told us that they were all reserved, so we should wait at the bar. Bartender was nice enough, but when we paid she put some plastic chips next to our change. Not knowing what they were, we just left them at the bar next to our change. Mind you we were standing right there. A few minutes later they spin this wheel. Low and behold, our number comes up and the guy sitting at the bar grabs the chip and says he won. Bartender looked at him kinda funny, but said nothing to us or him. It would have been nice if someone had explained the whole wheel thing. We get seated and start to look at the menu. Everything sounds pretty good and since there were three of us, we tried a few different dishes. When the waitress comes to take out order, she was not friendly at all. Nor did she take time to explain the menu. We placed our order and she started to take the menu when my husband said he would like to hang on to it, as he and his friend were drinking tequila. She said fine and walked away. A few minutes later, the hostess walked by and grabbed the menu from under my husbands elbow. He asked her what the deal was and she said they needed the menu. Fine, we did not order any more tequila! Our food came and there were some hits and misses. I loved my green chicken enchiladas and our friend liked his, too. My husband ordered three tacos and they were OK at best. The thing that took The Original Taco down a few notches was the fact that when my husband went to the bathroom, he noticed the salsa bar, which the waitress never told us about, even though we ordered chips and salsa! I also did not care for the art work, if you can call it that? Being a SoCal native, I found the yellow family crossing sign a bit offensive. I understand that most people in Atlanta have never scene that sigh along the 5 freeway, but I have.
(1)
William W.

The food is consistent, but nothing that will blow your mind. The good: cheese dip, fried chicken tacos, good waitstaff The bad: vegetarian tacos, margaritas, interminable wait for a table
(3)
Stephie Z.

Let me preface by saying I did attend on their 25% off Employee Discount Promotional Night. That being said I have to drop these guys at least 2 stars, I would prefer to do more but I can't even tell if the food I had before was as good or better because they ran out. WTF!!! I am so sick of these restaurants that are generally busy anyways giving discounts and then running out of half their food items. You are promoting this, why the F wouldn't you order enough food. It really irks me. Another minus for the original the taco is that I called in my name for the list, was quoted a wait of 70 minutes, got there after 45 minutes to check in and then waited another 55 minutes to be seated. I realize they were busy but I was a hostess back in my college days, if you under-quote and the person comes up asking a couple of times, you bump a drunker party down. Place really pissed me off last night is all I can say. Oh and the mole taco I had was too cloyingly sweet and the fried chicken taco was way too salty. Next time I come, y'all better have those pizzas!
(2)
Steakhead ..

There is a new Mexican place in the location previously occupied by Sala in the Highlands/Morningside area called The Original El Taco, which I guess translates to The Original The Taco. I am not aware of any new El Taco restaurants so I am not too sure what "The Original" refers to. This is the latest Fifth Group concept, and at first I was scared (actually, I was petrified), that this would follow the same mistakes as The Original The Sala, which meant overdone and overpriced Mexican. But fear not, this is not the case with El Taco. When you first walk into the restaurant, you realize right away this is supposed to be a casual neighborhood place. Cool, fun colors, star chandeliers, and my favorite- a prize wheel, which among other things, awards free pitchers of margaritas for 15 minutes if it lands on that space and you hold the winning number. Gambling, tequila and tacos- you know this is a Steakhead kind of place! The menu is pretty standard for the modern taqueria these days. The queso royale includes japapenos, and chunks of chorizo sausage. Other items include fajitas, mexican pizza, enchiladas, etc. But given the name, I went for the tacos. There are 8different tacos on the regular menu, including the fried tilapia (don't be scared off by the salsa habenero, it is not spicy at all), fried chicken, mexican chorizo and the pork carnitas tacos. But the best taco I had this night was the Red Chili Steak taco (of course, you say). The chili rubbed steak was tender and extremely flavorful. There is a salsa bar towards the back which has some decent concoctions, though nothing overly spicy if you are into that sort of thing. The great thing about the taco menu is that they all are about $3 each. So with the change you save on food, you can direct that toward the drink menus. Speaking of which, the margarita list is impressive and I've heard good things about the frozen mojito (though I will not admit to having one of those). I think El Taco should do very well. They offer decent food, at a good price, in a fun atmosphere. Its both kid-friendly and singles-friendly. The front porch will be a popular spot in the Spring and Summer months. They do need to run that prize wheel a little more often- they didn't spin it once when I was there. I want to be like that guy in the KENO commercial when my number hits winning free pitchers of margaritas for all my friends!
(4)
Kenny D.

Great food, great service, I almost don't wanna tell ya about this little gem! We went for dinner Saturday night at 6:30 and got right in, but when we left, there was a line. We had steak tacos and roasted chicken tacos, which were outstanding. The salsa is the best in town (except for Nuevo Laredo, which has nasty service), but too bad you have to pay for it and chips. Good house 'rita, and I'm picky. Way better than your regular cheap Mexican food and not that much more expensive. And if you wanna die and go to heaven, order the fried apple pie (came hot and fresh) with cinnamon ice cream.
(5)
Foodie Buddha F.

I was flying solo last Thursday, so I decided to drop in at the new "The Original El Taco" (yeah - that makes sense). The name freakin' bothers me. Granted, it's just your basic Spanglish bastardization - but can't we do better than "The Original The Taco"??? Oh well - it doesn't factor in the score. Fifth group did a nice job of renovating the space. The restaurant is divided into an enclosed patio and a main dining room. It's very open and spacious. Apparently, some SCAD students painted the mural in the main room -very cool. They have a "take out" window which sounds like a great idea - only it's basically just a window cut into the wall on the side of the bar. You are better off taking 3 steps around the corner. Then at least you're at the bar. The "wheel of noise" is gimmicky and annoying. It's great for the kids early in the evening; after they split, it becomes stupid. By 8 o'clock, the kids had pretty much vanished. They were supplanted by a mix of middle age, under sexed couples, and a handful of late twenty-somethings who were trying to "be seen." I like the idea of giving away free food - but did anyone care for that stupid horn every 45 minutes? By the end, it was crowded enough to be called busy, but not to the point where you were unable to move. I walked in at 6:30 and found a good number of families eating. I quickly turned and found a spot at the bar where I was greeted by Mr. Happy, the kind of guy you just know has some really twisted secret. Be careful, he will try to act like he's your best friend. He asked if I had been in before - I lied and said yes. More often than not, this will get them off your back fast. Well, not this time! He responded "I knew you looked familiar!" Yikes on so many levels. He asked what I wanted to drink. I replied: "A margarita frida on the rocks with salt!" "But of course!" and then dove into a five minute dissertation as to why it was a fabulous choice. When he was done, he abruptly stopped, spun, and walked away. It would have been nice if he notified the bartenders of my order. Okay, onto the important stuff. The bartender who covered my area was very nice (I think her name was Kim but don't hold me to that). Regardless, she didn't have a lot of work to do. They margaritas were premixed and a disappointment. I can understand them using the mix machines; but, I expected something more for my "specialty" margarita. They were syrupy as hell and expensive. Oh well, at least they come in tall glasses and were strong. Onto the food - blah! It's a nice try, but also over priced and under delivered. They use quality product - but overall - the execution was pretty off. The tacos are all about $1.00 to pricey. I have no idea why they didn't just set a flat rate for the tacos. They do use homemade tortillas, and those were very tasty; however, every single taco arrived lukewarm. A lot of people have talked about the salsa bar that they have - this is a total misnomer. There are a handful of salsa's there (I think two or three), but most of it were other types of sauces and a variety of vegetables. What is most disappointing about the salsa bar is that nothing on it is unique. Every single item is used in at least one of their tacos. Grrr! What's the point? Okay so here's what I had: The fried chicken taco had sweet undertones due to the Mexican corn; but, I ordered two of these and both times - the chicken was soggy! What a bummer. The lime mayo was a nice touch and not over powering, but these pale in comparison to the fried chicken at Taqueria. The crispy pork belly was an expected surprise. By that I mean the chef is known for his love of pork belly, but it is an unusual choice nonetheless. The flavors have the potential to turn this into a star. Unfortunately, the ingredients were not well proportioned and it tasted just like it looked - messy. The cabbage could have been fresher and it needed more mint and chilies. The chipotle mayo did not resemble chipotle anything. I'd just call it mayo. The chorizo in the chorizo taco was over cooked. The peppers and onions were flavorful - but how hard is it to screw that up? The grilled chicken taco was the biggest failure. It was advertised as grilled thighs, creamy chipotle mole, grilled sweet onion, and pickled Serrano peppers. Sounds good - but I'm almost positive the chicken was boiled and not grilled. To boot, they tasted like "barbeque chicken tacos" - tell me where it says "barbeque sauce" on the menu? Major bomb there! Bottom line - they are trying too hard to make this an experience and not hard enough to deliver top notch food. The gimmicky salsa bar, wheel of noise, and take out window are all proof of that. It's just another "if you are in the 'hood" sort of spot. If you have any inclination to drive, don't go her. You'll be much better served at TDS on Cheshire or any number of spots on Buford. Not a place I would ever crave!
(3)
Genevieve B.

Husband and I have been going about once every 10 days. Loving it! Nice range of tastes, especially the salsas. worth going for fun and casual fare.
(4)
Jeff P.

Very attentive wait staff. Food just ok we had margaritas which were very good served it a tiny glasses. Probably best to go on a night where they have a special as otherwise pricing is high for what you get.
(3)
Yvette J.

I'm a sucker for any place that offers New Mexico (my home state) chile on their menu and adult beverages centered around tequila. Off to El Taco we go... It was Sunday, it was around 6:15 pm and the place already had a 10-15 min wait. Since, we didn't have our 2 yr old with us we were coming in at the tail end of the DWK (dining with kids) crowd but just ahead of the adults only crowd. We needed to be somewhere else by 7:30 so I perused the menu before we were seated. There was a nice variety but I zeroed in on the taco offerings. Since this was my first visit, I went with the 'ol favorites - 1 fish and 1 fried chicken taco. I was admiring the side choices - refried black beans with creme and mexican corn - but I had had a big lunch and didn't want to be a total gluton. I tried to compare the tacos to Taqueria Del Sol but you really can't. The corn in the fried chicken taco added just a hint of sweetness. I was not expecting it but enjoyed it. The breading was thin and not overpowering. Quite enjoyable. The Tilapia was tasty but just as different as the fish taco at TDS. I was not loving the slice of avocado and would prefer a avocado-sour cream-light jalapeno type sauce instead. I could not pass up the frozen mojito but felt it was a little too minty. I still slurped every last drop though and was happy that there was no skimp on the rum. Our service was friendly but I couldn't tell if they were just super busy and feeling frazzled or just lacking attentive and relaxed service that I enjoy. No biggie. I'll be back and next time we'll bring our 2 year old - beware!
(3)
Frank L.

Parking is entertaining. I drive past this place every morning on my commute and had a chance to go a few weeks back for a meet up - I forget either twitter or yelp - anyway. The place isn't as big as I thought it would be, actually its a lot smaller than I expected. It was crowded, so space was at a premium, especially with the large group that was there. All things considered, service was good and the drinks were good, but the food was ok. I wasn't blown away by it, but mexican food in general doesn't blow me away and if it does "blow me away" its usually not a good thing.
(3)
Scott J.

Excellent salsa, queso and tacos. The steak taco was especially good. The lime salted chips were also great. Good spot.
(4)
Jennifer K.

Went on Friday night and there was an hour wait, but we decided to wait it out - we'd heard it was good. I really wanted to like this place, especially since Sala was such a disappointment. After an hour wait, we were seated at probably the worst table in the restaurant, a couple feet from the door which didn't get the experience off to a great start. And because we were practically sitting outside, I think the server forgot about us a few times. And the food? We had chips, salsa, fajitas and tacos ok, but nothing to write home about. Certainly not worth an hour wait. The margaritas were OK, but again, nothing special. I think I'll stick with Pozole right down the street for my margarita fix.
(2)
Robin G.

Great Mexican! The kids menu was different and great. My kids loved the food, they use a wonderful cheese. The atmosphere is great, they have a nice patio. And I loved the chicken enchiladas with tometillo sauce. It was a great meal, well priced and in a great location.
(5)
Keith P.

Atmosphere great. Food is terrible. Way below par for VaHi. I've had way better food elsewhere.
(2)
Katherine D.

I really enjoyed El Taco. I must confess, the first time I visited was at the Top 25 Chefs party, so the $1 tacos and $2 beer may be affecting my judgment. Still, I thought both the pork belly and fried chicken tacos were outstanding. The rellenos taco wasn't so hot. However, the grilled corn-mayo (it's a side dish and also comes on the fried chicken taco) thing is truly exceptional. Though the menu has a great many more delicious sounding items (not sure about the pizza?), the tacos are all I can vouch for. The margaritas are just OK, but for the price and size, they're a good deal. I'll definitely visit El Taco again.
(4)
W T.

Me and a couple of friends had a long day at work and decided to go out for margaritas. I mentioned that the Original El Taco had pretty good reviews and we need to check it out. El Taco opened up a few months ago. I have been so excited about going, but I just wanted to wait awhile before going. I am the person that waits awhile after the new places open, so the place can "get the bugs out" before I came in for the first time :-) ....Boy was this place FANTASTIC! The staff is SO friendly. It was only 3 tables that were filled when we got there at 630pm, but by the time we got our first round of drinks, the place was jammed packed! People everywhere waiting to get a table. This is pretty cool. You would think that this place has been here for decades. lol. Everything that me and my friends ordered was tasty....from the Fro'mo's, to the chicken and steak fajitas, to the fried chicken tacos. The Queso Blanco was SO good. A little spicy at first, but we got used to the spiciness after awhile. Don't change a think about the recipes. I have to say that this place will be my new place for margaritas after work for sure. It is a whole lot better than El Azteca!!! yay! I can't wait to take my other friends there. I am such a big Fifth Group fan! This place rocks!!!
(5)
John R.

This is a local favorite of ours in the Highlands area. Food ranges from OK to Great but atmosphere and location makes up for any deficiencies with the food. Key lime margaritas are really great but pricey. Service is always fantastic.
(4)
Diane B.

Love this place!
(5)
Jaxxie B.

Good food! Fun place. And by God, get yourself a frozen mojito, will ya?!
(3)
Stanton A.

Another great place to visit if you are in the Highlands. The atmosphere is very fun and the margaritas are tasty. When you get to your table, your server will give you a wooden chip with a number on it. Every hour on the hour, a giant party wheel is spun, and if it lands on your number, you win a prize. You can win anything from and El Taco t-shirt to a free shot of tequila. The food here is slightly above average. There is a self-serve salsa bar which is very good. I had the fajitas last time and they were delicious. Someone at the table also ordered a Mexican pizza, which turned out to be below average. The best thing on the menu, in my opinion, is the fried chicken taco. It comes with their special lime mayo corn, which is probably the best thing on the menu. I would also recommend getting it as a side. Overall, the experience is fun and vibrant. There is plenty of free parking in the back. However, before 9 o'clock there are lots of kids in the restaurant. So if you like to be loud and let the occasional obscenity fly, you may want to arrive a little later. This is definitely a place you should try at least once.
(4)
Jeff D.

Good food, but it's practically a daycare if you go before 8:00. There literally were two tables without two kids or less. All well and good, but when we go out to eat we want to eat, not plug our ears from the screaming.
(3)
Thomas T.

I had purchased a coupon directly from 5th Group a while back and decided to use it yesterday for lunch. It was a $10 for $20 coupon so we ordered some extras as I do on these things and the bill came to about $30. When I presented the coupon I was told it was expired which surprised me as I had purchased it not long ago. It was showing an expiration date of October and was actually a couple of weeks expired. If this were a coupon I clipped somewhere it would not have been so bad but when the manager, nice as he was about it, refused the coupon that I had actually bought from the company for $10 I got to thinking about the mediocre lunch I just had for $40 when I include the coupon price. I also thought about how I as a business retailer would handle a situation like this. If you make an offer to your prospective customer and that customer invests in you before the service is rendered and then make no offer to do anything to compensate I think that is bad business. They got my $10 but it will stop there as their offer to save $10 got me in the door but then alienated me. I presented this idea to the manager and he said he did not have a button on the computer to remedy the situation. Sounds like the management here is rather helpless to deal with these type situations. Any offer would have been enough to satisfy me but he stuck to his guns. I spend about $500 a year in the 5th Group resturants and I like supporting my neighborhood businesses but this is bad business and I choose to go elsewhere in the future. In addition the food was bad and haunted us all day so I guess my closing comment will come as no surprise to any reader. I'll not be back to a 5th Group Restaurant. PS The Carnitas are better at Chipolte! Allot Better.
(1)
Tyler D.

This place is always outstanding...I love the "pizzas" and the tacos are great. Always get the grilled corn side. The drinks are also strong and amazing, and let's not forget the wheel that they spin hourly. Not to miss!!
(5)
Shaun K.

It's not that the Original El Taco is bad. It's not. It's decent. If I still lived in VaHi, I might put it in the rotation. But with Prickly Pear Taqueria now within walking distance from me and Bone Garden an equidistant drive, I don't know that I'll be back much. It's a fun place and I enjoyed sitting out on the porch with friends on a Saturday night having some tacos and margaritas, but the food was kind of hit or miss. Guacamole was fine, but it's guacamole. Red Chile Steak tacos were nothing special. The chorizo tacos were a bit overwhelmed by some of the spiciest chorizo I've had (and I looove me some chorizo). The fried chicken tacos with corn, on the other hand were pretty stellar (as was the taste of the mayonnaise corn side dish I had.) Fried apple pie with cinnamon dulce de leche ice was stronger on the ice cream side than the pie side. The biggest winner of the evening was the pitcher of Key West Margaritas (highly recommended) which were fantastic. Bottom line: if you're in the neighborhood and in the mood for some tacos and margaritas, check it out; if you're in search of a really great taqueria, you can definitely do better.
(3)
Brittany H.

After spending about an hour trying to decide where I wanted to go to dinner last night, I finally decided on The Original El Taco. Right before my friend picked me up, I gave them a call to ask them to hold us a table, as instructed on the website. When we arrived, the place was packed. We checked in with the hostess, but we were still going to have to wait. So we went to grab a drink at the bar, and ordered sangria for me, a margarita for him, and two tequila shots. (Tuesdays are like my weekend, because I usually work when everyone else is having fun.) The bartender was super nice (Brandon, I believe), so we decided just to sit at the bar for dinner. We started off with queso dip, then ordered the pork carnitas taco, the pork belly taco, the red chili steak taco, and the chicken fajita salad. (All to share, as usual.) The queso dip was good, if not a little too runny. The chips were great, I loved the flavor of the salt. The tacos were all good, though the steak tasted like it was marinated in Dale's. (Not that that is a bad thing, but I could do it at home.) The fajita salad was very disappointing. When I think of a fajita salad, I expect the chicken to be warm. It was not. There was no cheese, no tortilla, nothing. (I know it didn't say on the menu there would be those things, but honestly. It was just a salad. Why even include the word fajita?...hmm, I guess that bothered me more than I thought. I suppose when you are in a sangria haze everything is a little happier.) We stuck around for a few more drinks, and my friend even won a shot of tequila on the wheel....of....tacos! It was a fun night, but will we be back? I am not sure. Our bill was eighty dollars, so it was a hundred dollar dinner. (3 sangria, 2 margaritas, 1 beer, 2 shots, chips and dip, 3 tacos, and a salad) Perhaps now that I have the menu narrowed down, I will be able to just pop in for a few tacos and not drop so much hard earned money.
(3)
Shannon L.

Nothing particularly new or exciting about this place. Shared some chips and guacamole and had a couple tacos. Food was decent and frozen mojitos were good (although they did not live up to the raves). The only reason I'm even writing a review is to forewarn future customers about the side dish with corn. I absolutely love elote and I'm always excited when I see it or some variation on a menu (which doesn't happen too often in Atlanta). This version was ok-tasting, but it had an inescapable aftertaste of...hot dogs. Yes, hot dogs. Not a good meat aftertaste like bacon or ham, but hot dogs. It was truly bizarre. I still finished the dish, but I don't think I would order it again. Hopefully it was a one-time thing and you future elote partakers will enjoy the dish. But beware!
(3)
Kathleen H.

It's in my neighborhood and prices are right for the food! and the food is pretty good!
(4)
Kelly G.

I love EL Taco. Besides, Tin Lizzy's, it's my favorite place for Tex Mex in Atlanta. Good tacos, drinks, service, and spin the wheel! Don't like that you have to buy your chips, but otherwise, it's great!
(5)
Jeff S.

First, I love the food. It's a step above Tacqueria Del Sol, but similar fare. The fried chicken and pancetta tacos are a little bit of heaven. Perfectly done, they have nicely balanced textures and flavors with enough heat to be interesting. The margaritas are among the better you can get in Atlanta, and the sides aren't just inert filler, but rewarding themselves. Start with the grilled corn with lime mayo and branch out. I prefer the tacos to the pizzas--they do a better job with them--and I'd start there on your first visit before you branch out. It's among my favorite Baja Mex restaurants ever. The price you pay for inexpensive, great food is a crowd. Even on a week night it fills up quickly and can make parking an adventure. A margarita at the bar can make any wait tolerable, though, and the food is worth it.
(4)
Yelp R.

Great food service drinks and atmosphere
(5)
K M.

The best thing that we had was the guacamole; it was outstanding. Everything else that we ate was just okay. We had tacos and chicken fajitas. Nothing really blew me away. It was a Friday night, very crowded. There were lots of kids there, even though it was around 9pm. The tables were very close together and it was hard to navigate through the dining room to the bathrooms (especially since I was wearing heels-- the floor is so slippery!). The bartenders were very friendly to us, even though they were totally slammed. I probably won't make a point to go back there for food unless someone really wants to try it out! I'd go back for a drink, though.
(3)
Shelly J.

We got six varieties of tacos here and I was just not impressed. I just love Taqueria del Sol and I thought this was just an expensive version of it with less flavor. I wouldn't say it was terrible by any means, but I was just expecting more flavor. I would still go back but I would go to Taqueria del Sol over that any day.
(2)
Liam P.

had dinner sunday. good meal, decent price. the beef skewers are SKIMPY for $5 - dont nother, just get two steak tacos for a tad more $. steak fajitas were great - they started giving you 4 tortillas per order PLUS they will give you corn tortillas if you request. we frequent this spot (1-2x a month) with the kids and it has been consistently good.
(3)
Monika G.

As a Mexican living in Atlanta for years I am always on the search of anything with the name taco in it. So, how could I not try The Original El Taco? plus I work less than 5 minutes away so it is a great stop for after work dinner. Me and husband were soooo disappointed. I have to admit that we didn't do any alcohol on purpose so we ordered cokes that were forgotten by the waiter so we had to remind him after couple of minutes waiting. They do not serve chips and salsa unless you order them and if you do, DO NOT expect any good quality chips, they serve the same quality chips that you get for free in any other Mexican restaurant (the cheapest quality, are you kidding me? is like eating cardboard), well, we order the guacamole and it was so small that it took us no more than 5 dips to end it and it was also overpriced ($5.95) like the rest of the small menu that they have. We ordered the fish, pork belly, chorizo and poblano tacos, none of them impressed us at all. I can honestly say Taqueria del Sol or Holy Taco are waaaaay much better and their price is more decent. This place has a nice atmosphere and the location is unbeatable. So, if you are not looking for great food and are willing to pay overpriced small tacos you won't be disappointed.
(2)
Parm A.

Fantastic food. Always good to very good wait service. Managerial service has been mediocre at best (borderline rude some times). We've been 8 times and we're likely going to wait awhile before returning. I don't get the sense that they value the family clientele.
(3)
Jason P.

Expect to wait; but it's worth it! The pork belly tacos are my favorite. They give away free stuff too! Go for Tacos, not Mexican.
(4)
Megan K.

So this is a review based solely on the smoked chicken taco. SO SO GOOD. I'll be back just because of it. The salsa is good too. Steak taco was decent and carnitas were ok - a bit dry. This is a 3.5 star place for me but those smoked chicken tacos made me round up.
(4)
Andrea M.

The atmosphere here is very cozy and relaxing. The food was pretty good overall. I had the hanger steak pinchos. It was good, but so not worth the $8.50 (take a look at my picture and you will see why.) If I come back, I will most definitely give the tacos a try. My friends and I also shared the queso royale. It was pretty good except they could have added less salt. The chips were seasoned with something that made it delicious all by itself so it was something good to nibble on while we enjoyed the atmosphere. The overall service was decent. I have seen speedier service elsewhere, but it wasn't bad by any means. I especially like having the option of sitting outside (would recommend if it's a nice day out). By the way, parking is across the street in an empty parking lot.
(3)
Eliane P.

Good overall...BUT, pleaae consider offeribg basic things one expects to fjnd jn a Mexican restaurant such as tres leches and empanadas without cheese.
(3)
Yasmine B.

One of my go to spots - great tacos and the frozen mojitos are a MUST HAVE. Always consistently delicious.
(5)
Sheek T.

love the atmosphere here. came in on a friday night. it was pretty packed. they had games where you could win free food or something. we sat outside which was really nice. great service! the cheese dip was awesome! i can't remember what I ate but I know I enjoyed all of it and more than likely I ate tacos. would definitely go back and refer a friend.
(5)
Ray M.

The only reason I'm giving it 3 stars is because it's my 1st visit. Otherwise I could easily give it 4 stars . Tacos were delicious especially the chicken and steak . Drinks were potent and we'll worth the money. My bestie drank the mojito and I had the sangria . No complaints will be back !
(3)
Alexandra P.

I really enjoyed the chips and the fried chicken taco. The carnitas taco tasted off to me. I sat at the bar and the service was very fast. There were many families there and one birthday party.
(4)
Brittany D.

A fun environment inside and outside! The chips were excellent (and a large contributor to my assessment of this, and any, Mecican restaurant), and the salsa bar made that aspect of the meal even better. The tacos were delicious and creative, and I really enjoyed the guacamole. Every hour in the hour, they spin a wheel to give on patron the chance to win free dessert. The only downside: it's not open for lunch.
(4)
Kirsten G.

Every time I visit my sister in Atlanta, El Taco is on the agenda- the guacamole is so flavorful and the frozen mojitos are out of this world! The service is lovely and the atmosphere is fun and inviting. Chef Jack always treats us like royalty!
(5)
BS K.

My husband I usually venture out when the weathers nice. Although I wasn't in a Mexican mood that quickly changed. Things st rated off shackle because I w anted out side seating and non available. Finally we were seated inside with a great waiter. Then an outside seat became availed and we moved outside. Our outside waitress started off slow. The food and drink recommendations were awesome. The rio appetizer was a hit in addition to the fried chicken taco and the steak kabob was excellent. Perfectly cooked. We will b back very soon,
(4)
Mick D.

I've had this place bookmarked from some time. Once I walked into the restaurant, I had a vague memory of visiting once before (before I started yelping) and being not-so-impressed. But I'm glad I visited again. Fifth Group maintains their tradition of excellence here, without the typical Fifth Group price points. (That was intentional. They've succeeded.) I sat at the bar, and found service to be fast and efficient. I wanted for nothing. The bartenders were friendly, and at one bartender's suggestion, I ordered the Chile Relleno and a Chorizo taco. He had said the relleno would be tasty, but not very large. This was certainly true. And the taco was also very good. Next time, I may just stick with a plate of tacos. Overall, everything was tasty. And my meal could have used more heat. Sometimes, you just got to have a good after-burn, you know? The chese dip is a clear winner. This isn't your average tex-mex cheese dip. And the chips that come with it are lightly seasoned with something other than salt. Addictively good. I'll happily go back. Holler if you're coming with.
(4)
Michael T.

Excellent as always!
(4)
Lianne S.

The tacos here are so tasty but today I tried the enchiladas...cheese and poblano with mole sauce. So tasty! The queso royale was also yummy. Love cheese and chorizo!
(4)
Nick G.

I saw this place on Atlanta Eats, it seemed different and the food was well planned yet simple. We went there a few weeks ago and were not disappointed! They instantly gave us a couple poker chips which had us curious, apparently they give away prizes on the hour if your number is called. Beyond that the food was very good, lots of flavor and you can tell that the chef took the time to create food that stands apart.
(5)
Shawn F.

Went in for a late night dinner and left satisfied. Overall, we had a pretty good meal. The service was great, super helpful and friendly waiter. The food however was just okay. The Mexican pizza was pretty good. We ordered it with chicken and the chicken was pretty dried out. The pizza was tasty and very filling but the chicken not so good. The three tacos we ordered were the smoked chicken, chicken tender and the chalkboard special- the clam strip taco. Our favorite was the clam strip taco. As a native from New England, I know my clam strips and these were pretty darn good. They added some capers and green tarter mayo sauce and it was delicious. The other two tacos were just whatever. The smoked chicken taco was pretty dry and not so flavorful. The chicken tender taco was better than the smoked chicken taco. However, neither were too great. I liked the salsa bar, they had some pretty tasty salsas on there. However, note that chips are extra charge, but you can go to the salsa bar without ordering chips and use the salsa on your meals. Overall, the prices are okay, the service was great, but the food was just okay. They need to work on the quality and freshness of their food. Maybe it was because it was a Sunday night an hour before closing but still no excuse, the chicken should not be dry like that. There's much better Mexican places in the area, I wouldn't rush back here by any means.
(3)
Lindsay B.

Honestly don't understand all of these great reviews on the food. I went here after reading Yelp reviews that the place is great, but not authentic. Not only is it not authentic, it's not that good. The chips have some sort of spicy seasoning on them, and the salsa was just okay. I had the fajitas, and the chicken was pretty good, but certainly not worth the price. Very expensive for the quality of food received. And it all came with flour tortillas, not corn. It seemed like a lot of people came here with their kids, which makes sense. Probably the only way I'd go back is to bring a family. That being said, the noise level was loud with all the kids. It was better outside on the patio. No one explained the tokens/taco wheel to us. I just read about it on Yelp. If you're going to have a fun way for people to win prizes (especially with mediocre food), it might be good to tell customers about it instead of assuming everyone knows about it coming in. Would have made my experience better to try and win something.
(2)
Bridget S.

Being gluten & dairy free going out to dinner can be a real challenge. Waitstaff have no idea what it means & I eat a lot of chicken & fish with veggies. But El Taco was different, they had a full gluten free menu & even a gluten free beer! The service was very fast, the grilled chicken taco was the best thing is eaten in weeks. Next time I want to make a point to try their salsa bar!
(4)
Juan M.

Know why I like these guys? I mean, besides the fact that I can walk there, they have Nacho Libre night on Thursdays and offer gluten free beer after we asked them to (and the best one - Daura)? Check out the e-mail I just got: Hi Juan, It was good to see you and the family the other night. As you guys typically come in on Thursdays, I wanted to let you know that this Thursday 5/29, we will be closed for a private event at 8PM. We will seat the last guest at 8, so that means no nachos this week. :( I just hated the idea of you coming all the way to the restaurant to find out we were closed. After tomorrow, it will be business as normal. We hope to see you soon! Thanks! Katie McCormick, General Manager - The Original El Taco 'Nuff said!!!
(5)
Leslie T.

Fantastic steak tacos! The meat is lean and has just the right amount of flavor with the fried onions they sprinkle on top. Mmmm...and the fried chicken tacos topped with yummy corn. They can't be beat!
(5)
John B.

El Taco will make you feel stupid for not eating here earlier in life. They are delicious, their drink prices reasonable and taco prices acceptable. The food: exceptionally good and tasty. Check it out next time your are in ViHi.
(4)
Kelsey F.

Unassuming as it may be, El Taco really won me over on a recent Tuesday night. I went with a friend to celebrate her birthday. We arrived way earlier than the rest of the group so we sat at the bar for some chips, salsa and a pitcher of their delicious (but almost too sweet) margaritas on the rocks. The bar tenders are a spunky group of guys who made sure we had everything we needed as quick as possible. Fair warning, the chips and salsa are pretty addicting. Though you have to pay $2.50 for them, when we moved from the bar to the table our waitress brought us more chips and salsa to be enjoyed by the whole group for no extra cost. The drinks and food are quite tasty at El Taco. Margaritas and mojitos come on the rocks or frozen. They also have a skinny option (for $3 more) that I assume is made with splenda or something of the sort. After all the chips, we weren't too hungry. I ordered the veggie taco and the pork carnitas taco. Both were excellent especially compared to some other tacos I've had recently. The two tacos set me back $6- not a bad deal. One dinning companion got the steak salad which looked quite delicious. I also spotted a Mexican pizza across the room that looked extra good. There is a salsa bar in the corner with lots of interesting taco toppers to sample. The atmosphere is casual and friendly with a few fun added bonuses. When you sit down you will get tokens with numbers on them. Once every hour they spin a magical wheel and the number it lands on wins a prize like free salsa, drinks, desserts or bar swag. We were there for a couple of spins, but no luck this time. Also, for a Tuesday night El Taco was really crowded with a range of patrons. El Taco shares their parking lot with DBA. On weekend nights, this little lot can get really crowded. There is also parking available on the surrounding streets and in a few other near by lots.
(4)
Shyam S.

My girlfriend and I visited El Taco twice and both times were extremely happy with our food. This may not be Mexican, as much as it is Mexican fusion, but the food is quality. The Mexican pizza is a meal in itself and is probably 10x bigger than the Taco Bell Mexican pizza if that is your frame of reference (think of HUGE nachos). I loved the salsa bar and especially the peanut-sauce inspired salsa (it is delicious). All the tacos are great, but they have a marinated steak dish on a skewer that is soft and delicious and flavorful and amazing. All the food is top-notch except for the salted cod fritters.
(5)
M H.

This place is great and I can't believe I've just driven by it in the past- no more! My husband got the chile relleno- best he's ever had, and the blt taco. I got the fried fish taco and the fried chicken taco- both were excellent. We sat outside, had a great waiter (thanks Mark!) and all in all a great experience.
(5)
Robert P.

I went here for the first time last night and I definitely plan to return. The patio is perfect; not too noisy and great when the weather is as nice as it was yesterday. The food was quite good too. The smoked chicken taco was delicious and I heartily recommend it. The beef empanada special was decent, but not that memorable. The margaritas are alright - not the best I've had, but still sufficiently strong and good. Also fun is their "lottery." Everyone gets a token when they are seated and every hour some lucky customer wins something if their token is called. The prizes range from free drinks to free swag. I did not win sadly, but perhaps next time!
(4)
Heidi P.

I love this damn place. It's fun and delicious. I'm slightly biased because I know people who work there and for the company, so I'm only going to talk about the quality of food and atmosphere. Oh yea.. and parking. Parking is usually not great on the weekends. Their lot is smallish, but there is plenty of street parking off the side road. We often get the Tastes Trio app to start.. queso blanco, guac and salsa. The queso is perfecto.. I don't know how they do it or what's in it.. but I loooooove it. The chips have this awesome spice on them which leads me to believe by the end of the meal, I could still lick these chips clean and feel very good about myself still. The guac is very good.. very fresh. The salsa is good.. it's tasty, but not chunky which is how I prefer fresh salsa. All I really need are the chips and queso. The tacos. Ohhh the mothereffing tacos. The Fried Chicken taco is the absolute most delicious thing you'll put in your mouth, that comes in a flour tortilla. It's so simple.. it's not a large piece of chicken but once you've eaten it, you know it was the right size. Grilled corn, chili mayo, cotija cheese and cilantro. Fried Fish and Pork Carnitas taco make the top three. The steak fajitas are great.. Just a perfect, little, savory, delicious sizzling dish of meat, green and red peppers and onions. Got the Cowboy pot beans once, thinking it'd be a substitute for refried beans.. and it wasn't quite what I expected. Drinks, at least the vodka cranberry, are made well.. Not strong nor weak. The atmosphere overall is super fun. It's not your traditional Mexican joint with sombreros and mariachi bands. It's got a little bit of a hipster vibe with some family friendliness.. with luchadores and Frida on the wall among other fun visuals. Don't forget to check your wooden tokens when they spin the prize wheel each hour on the hour. Each token has a number that correlates with a prize on the wheel.. and if your number gets called.. guess what! WINNAAAH! Could be a pitcher of beer, a free queso appetizer, a gift card.. etc. Sometimes I wish they had typical rice and beans sides that automatically come with dishes at other Mexican restaurants.. you end up realizing they're not missed. Cost-wise, you could be paying a bit more than your local Mexican joint.. but if you're on a budget, consider the awesome tacos, which are all $2.95-$4.25. It just depends upon how crazy you get with trying each different type... If you've gotten an app as well, just start off with two tacos and see how you feel. You may be surprised at how satisfied you are despite their smaller size. It's worth mentioning a previous review I wrote a week or two ago about another "taco" place.. The tacos at this "other" place are twice the size and more expensive, but half the quality, if that, and even less of a taste-competitor. El Taco a little off the beaten VaHi path (not close to the true center of VaHi) and a bit of a drive from the highway, but very worth it.
(5)
Jess B.

I had a fried chicken taco and a veggie taco- both were alright. Nothing amazing. I feel like when this place first opened the food had more effort to it. Also I think the chips are just way over seasoned. My boyfriend had the shrimp fajitas and I think he made the better dinner choice- they are very skimpy with the sides for the fajitas though. Good flavored margaritas.
(3)
Jai Veer Singh J.

This restaurant won't serve you boring tacos, instead their menu contains lots of unusual items with very unique flavors including the delicious fried chicken or smoked chicken tacos and a Mexican veggie pizza. We were pleased with the quality and the price of the food and enjoyed these tacos with twist.
(4)
Laura P.

I love the tacos; smoked or fried chicken and the steak taco. They are fantastic, not authentic; but fantastic. The only thing I do not like is that with any other 'Mexican' place you get chips; not here. The service has always been good and the prize wheel is great.
(4)
Kelsey G.

I'll just start off by saying that I love mexican food. I'm from Texas, so I'm a true lover of Tex-Mex. I was excited about visiting this place because so many people had raved about it. Eh- unfortunately it wasn't too impressive- It was good, but nothing worth raving about. 1. Service - The service was amazing- our waiter got our large table everything we needed quickly and split up our complicated checks correctly without any problem. He earned this place the extra star. 2. Drinks - I started with a frozen Mojito- which I've never had before and it was delicious. If you've never had it that way, it's worth a shot. I went back to my typical "on-the-rocks" Mojito after that, but it was a nice change of pace. 3. Appetizers - Several of the people I was with got the chips and guacamole, so I gave that a try. It was pretty good, but it's pretty hard to mess that up. ;) It was very fresh and had plenty of flavor and the chips were perfectly crisp and salty. 4. Dinner - I split the Mexican Pizza with a friend of mine and it was quite large, so I recommend sharing it with someone. We still didn't eat the whole thing. It was decent, but it didn't have too much flavor. There was almost too much lettuce and not enough "substance" to eat. I went over the the salsa bar (which was AMAZING by the way) and covered my part of the pizza with the tomatillo salsa- mmmmmm. That gave it the extra flavor it was missing. 5. Atmosphere -The dining room was pretty busy, but then again it was a Saturday night. We had a birthday party to go to near by and asked our waiter about overnight parking. They allow it, but make sure you get a parking pass. The waiter said they can get a little tow-happy with people that don't get the pass. Overall, it was a decent but very forgettable meal. It was similar to a Tin Lizzy's or Verde, but to me it just didn't pack a flavor punch that I was looking for. Thank goodness for the salsa bar- they don't tell you about it, so make sure you don't forget it's there!
(3)
M H.

I am obsessed with the queso. I am obsessed with the margaritas as well. This place does not disappoint.
(5)
Michael E.

The atmosphere of El Taco is positively wonderful. The servers really care and have always been attentive to my groups' needs. In my book, great service is a guarantee at El Taco. That said, the food leaves something to be desired. It's a little greasy for my tastes. I keep coming back to the Short Stack, which I'm guessing is one of the greasier items on the menu. My experience with the food has not been great (hence the three stars).
(3)
Jeff H.

This place is outstanding! The staff and managers know how to run a restaurant. We live down the street and El Taco has been a staple in our restaurant rotation. I always recommend the specials - the guys in the kitchen know how to whip up seasonal dishes and they always impress. Thursday evening they have a late night nacho option that's worth the wait. The Mexican pizza is a nice option on the menu. My favorite is the short stack! Wow - it's dinner and breakfast in a small bowl. Enjoy!
(5)
Matthew C.

This place has really grown on me over the past few years. It's quick, good and relatively cheap. The chips and salsa are really good. The margaritas are a little too sweet for my tastes, but still enjoyable, as they have tequila in them. I usually order a few tacos and have tried most of them and have never had a bad one. They have a ton of hot sauces, some of which result in turning red, public sweating and several hours of misery. Ghost pepper sauce is never a good decision.
(4)
Ashley F.

We walk here a lot to have margaritas. We've learned the house margarita is really freakin' tasty so no need to top shelf it here unless you really really want to. Their margaritas are good and good-n-strong. :) I think the food is better than average here but I just wish it was local/farm fresh. I like that they offer a vegetarian Mexican pizza and enjoy the guac and salsa bar too. They also have a couple of vegetarian tacos, but they switch up the vegetarian offering often enough to make them an interesting choice for me. With that said, it is a decent neighborhood eatery. It is usually quite busy and often quite LOUD so don't expect to have a sweet intimate conversation while dining. Families seem to be happy eating here too - haven't perused the kid menu...
(4)
Marta T.

Nice vibes, great tacos, and good service. However, I've never been to a Mexican restaurant where you get a basket of chips and have to pay for the salsa...also, cheese should be complementary on tacos. Other than that, the scene is cute for a night out, location is great, and the bar is nice as well. Please invest in some margarita glasses as well.
(2)
Keith F.

This place is very busy most of the time and in my opinion for good reason. The service tonight was top notch. Our group of 12 had a 7:30 reservation and we were seated at 7:32 so no problem there. A few things to take note of. You don't automatically get chips and salsa. Do yourself a favor and order the queso and then you can get your chip fix and a wide range of salsa from the salsa bar. My favorite was the green. The diablo mango had a nice punch as well. My appetizer order of guacamole was decent tasting but it was pretty small in size considering the price. The shrimp fajitas I ordered were delicious. I should've taken a picture of them but was hungry and just started tearing into them. My only complaint with them was that the side of cheese it came with was the size of a thimble and by my second one I was out... I would recommend this place and will come back at some point. As a side note the Mexican pizza looked really good.
(4)
Jeff T.

Love El Taco! Food is always fresh and delicious, & the salsa bar rocks! The pork belly taco is absolutely one if the best tacos I've ever had, I would come here even more often if it was a regular menu item. I just wish they were open for lunch Mon. - Fri.
(5)
Tanya E.

Service: amazing Mark was my server and recommended the smoke chicken taco which was amazing. He was very attentive. Food: Smoked chicken taco was my fav. It was amazing. The crunchy jalapeÃ±os and sauce and the flavorful chicken. A winner. Fried chicken taco also very good. Fried fish- umm not so much. I love a good fish taco but this one was too crunchy and greasy. Hence one less star. Otherwise, would've been. 5 star experience. They even put me at the only table with an outlet because my phone battery was dying. Great covered patio. It's pouring rain but I'm still able to enjoy being outside.
(4)
Kait M.

The bar pours great drinks and the food is awesome! Prices were affordable and portions were the perfect size (not too big that I felt stuffed after eating it all). Took off one star because it took them forever to call our name when we were waiting at the bar. She said that she had called our name, but we didn't respond (we were about 8 feet from the front). Our spot was given away twice before we finally sat down (after sharing queso and finishing off our first drink). The atmosphere is fun, especially with the fun token spin. I would go again, just hope we don't have to wait as long.
(4)
Joe K.

I've been to El Taco twice before and my wife's been around 10 times or so. We came down for some of the fried chicken tacos, but they just weren't happening today. No magical crunchiness, the corn wasn't roasted and not up to snuff, and they were just generally deflated. We also ordered a Mexican pizza which itself was ok but the carnitas we ordered for the top of it were so salty they were unpleasant. Tasted like they'd been brined to strongly. Overall a letdown, hope they're not slipping for any particular reason.
(2)
Vicki N.

We came across The Original El Taco on a list of the best tacos in Atlanta via Thrillist. Came here on a Sunday for a very early dinner, so we beat the dinner rush. What's cool is that they give everyone a token with a number on it, and every hour on the hour, they spin a wheel to decide who gets a prize! We didn't win ): I ordered the posole soup and their fried chicken tacos and shared a queso blanco appetizer with the group. Queso Blanco- Love the chile lime seasoning that's dusted on the chips! Ask for more chips if you run out. Posole- This was my first time having posole. It was delish! The soup had a slight heat and was full of hominy, shreds of chicken, avocado and peppers. Fried chicken taco- This taco is served on a flour tortilla with a fried chicken strip and Mexican corn. I loved this taco! The batter on the chicken strip was perfectly seasoned, and the corn was super sweet, just the way I like it. Don't forget about the salsa bar! We definitely didn't see it until after we finished our food haha. Service was excellent! Our waitress even gave us an extra token for being first-timers. She was very helpful with the menu as well. I'd definitely come back here for that taco!
(5)
Ashlye B.

This place sucks on food! The margarita was the focal point of the whole evening. The salsa bar tasted like watered down tomato and hot-sauces. I definitely will not be back.
(1)
Marta P.

I love tacos, good tacos. I love fish tacos even more so. Every time I try a new taco joint, I always grab a fish taco, mainly just to see if anyone can stack up to the fish taco at Taqueria del Sol. Every place was unsuccessful...but the fish taco here, OH MAN. It comes damn close. The fish is nice and juicy, fried just enough. The briny mayo and picked chiles complement it perfectly. It's a real winner! The other tacos I tried were the pork carnitas and mushroom. Both were equally as excellent. Usually veggie tacos are pretty disappointing, but the mushroom taco was flavorful and full of texture. I highly recommend it for any vegetarian. The restaurant itself is great. There's ample parking on the side of the building, a nice patio, and very friendly staff. The mojitos are extra cold and perfect for a hot afternoon. It's a great spot for families and date nights alike.
(5)
Keith B.

Food was good. I had the Short rib enchiladas, Mexican grilled corn & grilled scallions. Service was good but I think the portion size should be greater. I would definitely go back.
(4)
Keith B.

Really Good We went for an early dinner and sat in the open patio area. The place was remarkably busy with young families and it had a boisterous feel. Service was great with a helpful and friendly waiter. There is a nice selection of Margaritas. I enjoyed the one with grapefruit. The two of us shared a nice large salad and the 5-taco platter. All the tacos were really good. The smoked chicken and the fish tacos were outstanding. I'm getting hungry just thinking about them! The fried apple pie with cinnamon ice cream was also quite good, although the ice cream needed a little more spice. Prices were very reasonable.
(4)
Shikha K.

This place is delicious, but it definitely isn't authentic Mexican food. If you come in aware of that, you will love this place. It is a fun environment and all the waiters are very friendly. You get tokens when you walk in, and every hour they spin a wheel for free giveaways. You can win menu items such as free nachos or a free tequila shot. The atmosphere is energetic, and it is great for groups! I love this place and frequent here often, this only reason I gave it 3 star is because it definitely is not authentic mexican food. Nonetheless, it is delicious and has a kick-ass salsa bar. My favorite dish: the cheese and poblano enchiladas in red chili sauce.
(4)
Courtny M.

What a cute, yummy place! The atmosphere is fun & low key & trendy. At the recommendationof our server we had the smoked chicken tacos and they were delicious. The cheese sauce was spicy with some yummy chorizo mixed in...and all together it was very affordable! The most fun thing about this place is on the hour they spin the wheel & you have a chance for free chips & salsa! Great choice for affordable pleasant meal
(5)
Chris C.

Awesome! All awesome! Food, service, margaritas...again bloody awesome! Recommend the chorizo tacos and the queso royale.
(4)
Sara M.

As a big fan of Fifth Group's other restaurants, I'd been wanting to check out El Taco for a while now. Finally got around to it this weekend. Yay! Here's a rundown of the food I had: Queso: So good. Cheesy and thick, my tortilla chips got a nice coating with just a quick dip. Guacamole: Standard. Not mind-blowing but pretty solid. Salsa: Had a good smokey taste with slight spice. Chips: Wasn't a huge fan of the seasoning blend and it was distributed a bit unevenly. Smoked chicken taco: The chicken was excellent! Great smoked flavor, and there were nice big chucks of it in the taco. Came with what looked like fried jalapeÃ±o slices. Steak taco: It was fine, pretty middle-of-the-road. Like the previous taco, a good amount of meat. Also came with crispy onions, which were good. Braised pork belly taco: This was a really tasty taco. Came with ricotta made with goat's milk. Also, I think this one may have been a special. Fried apple pie: Pie was good, the dulce de leche & cinnamon ice cream was even better. I could take down a pint of that stuff easy. Frozen mojito: Not normally a cocktail drinker and almost never a frozen cocktail drinker, but I tried this at the recommendation of my dining companion. These are delicious and dangerous. I have a general objection to paying more than $3 for a taco and these were between $3;75 and $4. I concede that these tacos were better than others I've had in the same price range but I still grumbled slightly when I saw the prices. But overall, I thought prices were okay. Service was really good. We had the bartender taking care of us and he was friendly and very patient, especially once those mojitos started kicking in and we got a little silly. The manager also came by to chat with us a bit. I think this is going to be part of my day drinking rotation, although it's also a fine spot for lunch or dinner. But the nice patio, great drinks, and friendly staff make this an ideal location to hang out with friends all afternoon.
(4)
Vicky J.

Inside can be loud, but the patio is fabulous. If you like sangria and non traditional tacos, this is the place for you. I trying to make it here once a week. It is a great place to unwind.
(5)
Michelle T.

This place is fun. I had fun. But my appetite did not. It's not bad, its just not great. The fun is in the drinks and the wheel! They give everyone some number chips and they spin the wheel every hour. My table won an order of queso which was perfect! The queso was good but what made it great was the salsa bar! That's part of the fun too. They have a bar with salsas, sauces and fresh cilantro. I love cilantro and having the ability to do what I want with it is a plus!! But the menu is limited to some tacos, Mexican pizza, enchiladas. There is a board with daily specials. I picked the Salt fish fitters they had but it just tasted like potato balls. I also ordered the chorizo taco and it was okay. I added cilantro to make it better. I tasted the Mexico City grilled corn and the brisket taco and the flavors of both were just eh. Service was great because I was with a picky demanding bunch that often has special requests and the server got everything as everyone ordered and was friendly and fun. I would go there for drinks and a spin of the wheel but I would probably eat before I get there.
(2)
Sky D.

I came across this restaurant on the Atlanta channel showcasing restaurants. Grab a girlfriend and headed over at the first opportunity. I love the ambiance and we were greeted so graciously. We decided to eat outside on the patio/deck. I like the patio but my only qualm is the entry and exit are both off the patio. When we departed, it took a bit of finagling because there was a crowd of customers waiting to be seated. I should point out that I was not feeling well on this particular day. I enjoyed the Original Veggie Mexican Plizza but it would have tasted much better with a meat. My girlfriend and I shared a taco plate which came with 5 tacos, rice and beans (I think). I can't give a conclusive opinion on the tacos because my system was working against me. We enjoyed our server who had a great sense of humor and was very responsive to our needs. They do a drawing here every hour for free food/drinks. I will venture here one day in the future to give it another try.
(3)
Meghna B.

I love this place because the ambiance is nice, the food is great, and there's indoor and outdoor seating. As a vegetarian, I usually get the mole enchiladas with beans and cheese. Their mole is delicious. They also have a veggie taco. I once had the Mexican pizza but it was not as flavorful as the taco/enchilada and came out fairly soggy--so I steer clear of that. We are chips-aholics, and their chips and salsa are great. Chips are crisp and not super oily, and salsa is a roasted tomato with just a little kick. And, I especially like that I can supplement that with the salsa bar which has a habanero for the spice lovers (like me), pico de gallo (not too onion-y) and chopped cilantro (can't ever have too much cilantro!!). The staff has been friendly always, and managers always visit to make sure we're happy. We even won a queso on one of our visits here--they spin a wheel every hour to give away free food/drinks. Great place for dinner, good for groups, and families, parking lot behind (shared with a bunch of places, so can be dicey on busy weekend nights). I only wish they were open during the day!
(4)
Diana S.

We are regulars here and the tacos are OUTSTANDING!!! Fried chicken taco is a MUST have. The patio is nice and the service is AWESOME. Guacamole is always on point and we love getting tokens for the wheel spin. Love the daily specials on the board. I'm always excited to see what the "board" taco is. Be SURE you look at the board!! Definitely our FAVORITE taco place!!!!
(5)
Rachel P.

I love El Taco! As other reviewers have stated, it's not authentic Mexican food, but then, it doesn't purport to be. Come here for a tasty margaritas, delicious tacos, queso, and bottomless tortilla chips. There is also a free salsa bar with pico de gallo, habanero salsa, romesco salsa, salsa verde, cilantro, and limes. You can mix and match on your tacos, or order chips and indulge. El Taco's claim to fame is their prize wheel. Every customer gets a token with a number on it, and every hour they spin the prize wheel. If your number is called, you can win a beer, a pitcher of sangria, an app, or other assorted goodies.
(4)
amanda c.

Went today after church for the first time and loved it! The Skinny Margarita was the perfect way to start off a Sunday Funday. Split the steak fajitas and had a chicken taco. Both were awesome. Service was really good and the atmosphere was relaxed and casual.
(5)
Hope B.

I loved this place. I'm so glad we chose this restaurant today because I had been waiting to eat here since I moved here last September. I was looking forward to the frozen mojito so much! As soon as we came in, we got seated with a great waitress and great service!!! Chips, salsa, & salsa bar too! They were so great! The frozen mojitos hat I had been dying to try were AMAZING. (I got 3, plus the strawberry one! So good!) I'd say probably the best mojito I've ever had, even better frozen!! and also strong for such a great price of under $7. Tacos were AMAZING!!! I got the fried chicken taco and the smoked chicken taco. Soooo delicious. Overall i give this place 100% and outstanding. We had such a great time. No complaints at all. Cannot wait to come back! :)
(5)
Leo F.

The tacos were good I had the fish taco and the veggie taco, the fish one was good, and the frozen mojito was the bomb.com , SO going back
(3)
Latoya L.

excelente! Service was quick and friendly. Drinks were super delish and strong! Now onto the tacos, after all, it's called El Taco, duh lol Mushroom taco was pretty good. I give it a 3.5. It had to much citrus and I was looking for savory. Pork taco was about a 3. Something was missing but still really good. The smoked chicken was excellent, you could taste the smokiness and there was a kick. It gets a 4. The fish taco was superb. No frills and to the point. Nicely fried. It gets a 4. And the absolute winner is the fried chicken taco. Holy smokes this thing is good. The corn complimented the chicken nicely and the chicken was seasoned and fried to perfection. Super tender and yummy. I give it a 10/5 lol (can I do that? 200% yep I think I will.)
(5)
Forrest W.

Awesome as always. I love their fried chicken tacos. Great service and a marvelous atmosphere.
(5)
Audrey F.

Definitely a fan of El Taco!! It is a great addition to the between Highlands and Morningside strip of N. Highland. I love the outdoor patio where you can sit and watch the bustle on North Highland. There is even a outdoor TV so you can watch whatever game is on, while eating Mexican food, while outside...what more could you want on a great fall day? You can also easily tie your dog to the patio fence if you have them with you. The food here is great - its not my absolute favorite Mexican place in Atlanta, but it is definitely yummy. The fried fish and fried chicken tacos are favorites. I'm not a huge fan of the carnitas taco (I've had better), its a bit bland....so I'd opt for one of the many other taco options. One of my only gripes is that chips and salsa are not complimentary. Granted they are only like $2, but its always a nice touch to have them included.
(4)
Kelly E.

This place is so yummy. This place gets all of my love for tacos. The atmostphere is great and the servers are friendly. Very affordable as well.
(4)
Max P.

We've been here quite a few times and it hasn't failed us yet. Wonderful atmosphere, delicious food and great prices. Highly recommend the classic tastes trio for an appetizer. Their chips are fantastic! As far as tacos go, the fried chicken taco and the chorizo taco are super tasty.
(5)
Alison R.

Love el taco!! Of course Mexican pizza is amazing but also love the smoked chicken taco with fried jalapeÃ±os! Yum!! Got cheese enchiladas for the first time with the Oklahoma beef chili sauce (I think that's what it's called). OMG I will dream about that. Holy cow delicious. Also started with queso royale which was fantastic. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Brittany P.

I love this place! My sister and I had been painting. We looked like crap, and we were served and treated fantastically! The food was amazing! Again, the servers were awesome!
(5)
Kimberly F.

The Original El Taco is my good to Mexican joint. Every single experience I have ever had there as been fabulous! I want last night with a group of girl friends and we enjoyed every plate that came to our table. Highlights: Hanger Steak Pichos Made in casa Cod Fritters Chicken corn enchiladas Classic queso dip Mexican Corn Grapefruit juice Margarita (forgot the fancy name for it) My normal go-to item are the fried fish tacos with slaw and a side of the Mexican style corn (which I have never had at any other Mexican restaurant). I love it so much that I rarely venture away from it, but last night I want out on a limb and got the chicken corn enchiladas with salsa verde, Delicious decision! They were seasoned just perfectly and the portion was a reasonable portion for one person. They take pride in the made from scratch menu items and I appreciate that. Also they had a great margarita on the menu that has grapefruit juice in it. I love margaritas but sometimes they can be too sweet. This Margarita still has the backbone flavors of a good Margarita but mixed with grapefruit juice which cuts the sweetness. Excellent creation! This is one I will copy and take home to my own kitchen. Gracias El Taco for another Scrumptious meal!!!
(5)
Julie S.

Great place for drinks & dinner. Extremely fun for big groups! Both times I've gone it has been with over 10 people and the staff is very friendly and accomodating.
(3)
J D.

Love this place. Great for Celiacs with a pretty decent GF offering. Come here a lot, big fan. Love the mushroom tacos, guacamole, and the mexican corn. Only complaint is they took the Sloppy Jose off the menu. And they are open later than most places in the area!
(5)
Alex C.

This is my go-to spot for Mexican food in Atlanta! The food is really unique, the atmosphere is fun and everything I've tried on the menu has been awesome. I don't usually love margs, but I'm hooked on their skinny margarita. Great place for parties or for drinking before going out in the highlands - I've celebrated my birthday here with friends two years a in a row! Nacho Night on Thursdays is the best - you get a little sheet where you fill out exactly what you want on your nachos...you get so much food for a cheap price and they're SO good. Plus there's $2 beers and $4 house margs on Thursdays too.
(5)
Christina A.

LOL. I searched "El Taco" and this place turned up as "The Original El Taco." Seriously? You want to sell yourself as "The Original" El Taco over all the other El Taco's on Buford Hwy? haha. Anyway. I've been here several times after it first opened, but I now avoid this place at all costs! My review for this place is quite long overdue, but since I just opened up a Yelp account, I figured I'd still give my review. I give this place 2 stars, because quite honestly, the food is pretty decent. Also, the salsa bar is a plus. However, be prepared for nonchalant, rude, and pretentious staff at this place. I went with a friend a while back, and we were sharing a mexican pizza when all of a sudden, an ANT crawled out from underneath the lettuce on our pizza. We immediately told our server, who took the remainder of the pizza away without saying anything. This was actually the first time I've ever dealt with an insect in my food, but I would imagine that the server will come back to talk to you about the situation and either 1) offer to bring out a fresh order of that same item, or 2) offer to take that off your tab. He never came back to ask us what he could do about the situation, nor did he even come back to apologize. At that point, we just assumed he was bringing out another pizza. The manager then showed up to ask about what happened, and she was simply defensive about it and said the exterminator had just been there that day. All we really wanted to hear was "I'm so sorry, how can we make your experience better at this point?" but we saw that she was pretty embarrassed so we acknowledged and affirmed her by saying that we agree this is not the norm for El Taco. However, still no "sorry." After waiting another 10 minutes, the server brought us our check instead of what we thought would be another pizza. My friend and I were speechless. We flagged our server and we asked him if another pizza was on its way out. In a matter-of-fact tone, he said, "Um, why would you think that?" He proceeded to tell us, "Well, you guys were pretty much finished with the pizza anyway." Granted, we were on our 5th slice of pizza out of the 8 total slices when the ant crawled out, but shouldn't we have every right to finish our meal?! Why did we feel like WE were being a nuisance to them, when we were the patrons to this restaurant?! Another 15 minutes later, the manager reluctantly brought us another pizza and said, "So is this what you guys want?" We paid and left with the worst taste in our mouths. I got home and quickly emailed the Fifth Group Dir. of Operations and got a more apologetic response than from the staff at El Taco. After several exchanges, including him talking directly with the manager and our server, he concluded that there was a communication breakdown between the manager and our server, and expressed that maybe we could come back and give them another chance. He also wrote, "When you do, please give me a call so that I can make a reservation for you. I'd like to personally ensure that your next visit exceeds both of our expectations." Furthermore, he asked if I'd be willing to talk to the manager about the situation, which I was fine with. She was very apologetic by then and I felt it was pretty genuine. She also really wanted us to give them another chance. So, as stupid as it sounds, several weeks later my friend and I decided we would give them another shot. We also let the Dir. of Operations know that we were giving El Taco one more shot. (It's also important to note that I specifically said I did not want free meals as our compensation, so we were not going there again just for a free meal, but to see if we would really get better service that "exceeds...our expectations.") The manager was on vacay that week so we didn't get a chance to talk to her again, but we were told to ask for the gen. manager, since he was also privy to the whole situation. The meal was fine, but like I said, the food is honestly pretty decent and it was never the issue. The service was fine this time around, but not extraordinary. When we asked for the general manager just to let him know that we actually came by, he seemed very nonchalant, and it didn't seem to make a difference that we were actually giving them another chance. It almost seemed like a joke to him. That night, he emailed me again saying how it was "a pleasure meeting you" and to let him know how he "could be of assistance." Really, at that point, after bending over backwards and giving El Taco staff the benefit of the doubt, it was very obvious they just don't really care about customer satisfaction. They are all very good at saying the right things to appease the customer, but in reality, they don't give a damn. After having told all of my friends about the incident, no one I know goes there anymore. We stick to Taqueria del Sol, Takorea, or the truly original El Taco's on Buford Hwy
(2)
Daddy D.

Really good guac, some specialty margaritas, and the fried chicken tenders for the tacos is insane. Get it on the salad for a special 'healthy' salad!
(4)
Jennifer N.

I am so glad they brought back the smoked chicken! I also love the frozen mojitos. Great place to grab lunch or dinner with a group of friends. They have fast service, good food, and good drinks. The spin the wheel for prizes is fun as well. I won a $10 gift card the last visit! I like the tacos and the mexican pizza. Guac and cheese dip are good as well. The salsa bar has a few good salsas. Overall, not bad for a tex-mex establishment.
(4)
Harold J.

Food: Outstanding! Most Mexican cuisine places have a large average menu. This place sticks to a smaller menu that delivers excellent food no matter what you order. The ingredients are fresh and the salsa bar is simple and straight forward. I love the fact that you can try a number of different items. Service: From the host to the waiter, outstanding attentiveness and professionalism. Environment: We sat outside, for good measure, it's really loud inside. Other than that the environment is fun and comfortable. We look forward to dining with them again.
(5)
Dave K.

El Taco is the best restaurant in Virginia Highlands. It's the place to go for modern latin-inspired food and drinks, always fresh and the service is always helpful. The bar staff is friendly and had a good memory. All around, great. They keep the menu simple, but it keeps all the choices good. The steak taco is the star of the menu, the mushroom taco second (if you like mushrooms, it's killer). There's always a board of delicious specials, as well. Dos XX on draft along with many other choices. The atmosphere is lively - they do an hourly number raffle where you can win various comps for immediate use or a rain check. TVs showing sports. A comfortable patio with people having a good time. Just go.
(5)
John M.

This place gives Tacolu in Jacksonville a serious run for the money! I had the fried chicken taco and it was UNBELIEVABLE! Second only to the bangin' shrimp taco at Tacolu. I also had the chorizo taco (by mistake, I actually ordered the carnitas) and it was really good and I got the carne asada as well and that was the third best. But they were all awesome. LOVED the atmosphere. Great place for kids (my three year old loves Tacolu, so she'd love this place). After 9, the families clear out and it's a great place for people without kids to eat, drink and have fun.
(5)
Andrew A.

Went to The Original El Taco tonight with my wife and really enjoyed it. My wife and I laughed because we got there around 7:30 right as family night was transitioning into the younger, adult crowd. We really enjoyed the salsa and the chips - that included a seasoning similar to Tin Lizzy's chips. My wife had gazpacho and the fish and veggie tacos. She really enjoyed both of them. I had the fried chicken and the carnitas tacos. Both were over-flowing the tortillas and were full of flavor. And while we didn't win a prize when the wheel was spun, we certainly enjoyed it and will be going back soon.
(4)
Steph S.

My boyfriend and I hosted a group of 20 people for our birthday dinner at El Taco last night. We made reservations several weeks in advance to make sure they could accommodate our large group (esp. on a Saturday night). From that first phone call, and the several other calls leading up to the event (to update final #s of people attending, ask questions about balloon/decoration policies, etc.), I truly was so impressed with the staff at the restaurant. I spoke w both Kit and Katie several times and they were SO patient as #s fluctuated, gracious and easy to work with. They had our table ready on time, were well prepared for such a larger group and (most importantly to me), made us feel welcomed and appreciated as customers. Beyond the great customer service upfront, a few other strong points from the night: -Our waiter was on his A-game (I never waited more than 5 mins for a drink refill and all orders showed up complete and accurate) -Our food was delicious (I loved the queso royale and the chorizo taco!) -Drinks were plentiful with a good selection to choose from (though the margs were a little weak) I've only written 1-2 Yelp reviews before, but it was important that I write one for El Taco as a token of my appreciation for how accommodating they were to us last night! Definitely keep this place in mind for good food, a lively night of dining and for large groups!
(5)
Leigh N.

Came here Saturday night. Had smoked chicken taco and chorizo taco, plus queso. All pretty tasty, especially the queso. The chips were seasoned nicely. I like that they have a salsa bar with a variety of options - most of the sauces were good. The ambiance was decent, lighting and decor was good but it was quite noisy inside. Was a little less so outside. Had a frozen mojito, was pretty decent. The whole win-a-free-taco / wheel spin concept is fun, but they should do it more often throughout the evening. Most people were dressed up, I guess that's how it is on a Saturday night in the Highlands. Parking can be tricky so bring your walking shoes!
(3)
Christy B.

Perfect for Saturday lunch, their ala carte taco menu allows you to build the right-size meal for you. Two tacos and a side (I had the refried black beans, yum!) = good meal portion for your average stomach. The coconut flan for dessert was sensational!! My hubs and I are still talking about it weeks later. If you've glanced at the other reviews, you've seen mention of the fried chicken taco, and let me tell you, it's as good as you hope it will be. The atmosphere is neat; it fits into the purposefully quirky neighborhood of VA Highland with the murals inside and wrought iron and wooden walls on the outside. There are a good number of tables outside (10-15) so that lots of people can fit when the weather is nice. Only con: the host greeted us with a look up-and-down and "I assume you won't be needing the gluten-free menu?" Pfft! It's a taco bar, y'all!
(4)
Ashleigh P.

I really wanted to like this place. I hadn't been back here since it changed to the Original El Taco... Is there a fake one? When you sit down they give you a numbered token. One the top of every hour they spin a wheel by the bar. If you are holding the token that matches the winning number you win something off the menu, their choice. It adds a bit of fun to it. But I had to come for a thing about a thing... And Atlanta Eats was doing something with the lottery there, a "Dinner's On Us" promotional that El Taco was supporting by giving away a free queso or margarita to anyone who mentioned it. I got the queso (good choice) my SO got the margarita ( I say we tied on who made the better choice... but he says I won, which isn't completely true, cause I shared) The chips are thin and crispy and just salted enough. They have a salsa bar that has more than just salsa, the cabbage is excellent and the tomatillo salsa was my favorite. But makes me think Moe's, even thought the salsas are so much better. There were a few things I couldn't try due to my Bell Pepper allergy, but whatevs. I had the El Short Stack because I had heard good things... well, when you serve an egg on something, shouldn't the white be completely cooked? I was able to remove the raw parts, but ewwww. It had good flavor and a hangover cure quality to it, but not something I would come back for. Our waitress was friendly and helpful and a little condescending... in that way that they can be. I don't think we will be back. #17/365 #17/100
(3)
Erin C.

BEST FRIED CHICKEN TACOS IN THE CITY!!! Also, the frozen mojitos are GREAT!!! I try to order fried chicken tacos at other places, and they just don't compare.
(5)
V L.

El Taco is one of my favorite spots in the city! I love the atmosphere, food, drinks and service. I'm not a big mojito fan but Kit had me try their frozen mojito and it was truly amazing and done right! I love the corn and chicken enchiladas, fried chicken tacos and the queso royale will change your life. I love the fifth group restaurants! I'm usually here at least once every 2 weeks! If you haven't tried it you definitely should, you'll become a regular too!!!
(5)
Max M.

Finally, a taqueria in ATL gets it perfectly right. The tacos here are AMAZING! The flavor combinations are to die for. I ordered the smoked chicken, steak, chorizo, and chicken liver tacos. Ironically, my buddy desired four other tacos that were totally different from mine, so i got to try those too. Even a taco as simple as a chicken taco had the most amazing flavors. And they all came out at the perfect temperature. The only unusual taco they had on the main menu was the chicken liver taco. I took a chance by getting that one, but it was perfection. I didn't read the ingredients closely enough, so the collards in the taco were such an amazing and pleasant surprise. Man... everything was just fantastic. The salsa bar was fantastic. So was the guacamole. The service was great too. The manager even came out and spoke to us. This place goes at the top of my list as one of my favorite go-to restaurants in Atlanta.
(5)
Liz K.

I heart el taco. This place is fun and is inviting with open arms! The lime tortilla chips are amazing. A little bit of saltyness and a tang of lime. The guac is so good, I just want to keep ordering and ordering. The tacos were delicioso. I mean, you can't really go wrong there. Hot torillas, chopped up meats/veggies/herbs and BAM there you go. The margaritas just keep coming! Servers are fun and are willing to get to know you while you are there. Great environment! Don't forget about the salsa bar either!
(4)
Vivian E.

Excellent food and service. Perfect for families with little kids. The staff are patient and knowledgable. Would recommend to everyone!
(5)
Gillian N.

I'll get a hankering for the Taco quite often, and there's a reason. This place rocks. Get your wheel of taco tokens - free stuff rocks. They spin on the hour. I've never won in like 5 years, but there's always next time! I always sit at the bar - stick with what you know, amiright? Danny is a great bartender - super friendly and attentive with a sarcastic sense of humor. He also makes great cocktails. They upgraded the barstools about a year or two ago, so if you haven't been in a while and remember those stupid-heavy and super-uncomfy tree stumps, they are gone. Also, ladies - purse hooks. Winning. Fried chicken taco, smoked chicken taco, and anything pork will not disappoint. Guacamole is good, but I ask for no radish, because seriously, what is a radish doing there? (I HATE radishes) Queso is also pretty good, but nothing extraordinary. If you don't like sweet margaritas, don't order a house marg plain. Ask for it with a splash of club soda or some extra limes. Even the skinny marg is pretty sweet - they are good, but sweet is just not my thing with tequila, so I try to tone it down. The frozen mojitos, or FroMos, are absolutely awesome in the summer. They are also pretty sweet, but not too bad, and let's be real - it's basically a grown-up slushy - sweet is the M.O. Great offering in the Highlands that offers up something different from the other spots. Oh, and free parking in a lot. Take that, Park Atlanta!
(5)
Randy G.

I'm so glad that Tim Lizzy opened by Emory so I can skip El Taco. GET Better beer list.
(2)
Erin M.

I normally hate going to "out to dinner" birthday parties, but our server Paige changed my mind about that. She deserves a raise. It's nice to have a quasi-Mexican place that has corn tortillas for the gluten challenged. I'm so in love with their pork carnita tacos. Mmm mm mm. My one complaint is that it's pricey. $3 for a taco? Really? Eh, oh well. With service like Paige, how can you say no to going to El Taco. I'll definitely be back... but hopefully someone else will be buying. ;)
(4)
Janet B.

The Original El Taco-- it just fills you up with the anticipation that you are about to experience something very authentic, no? Seeing that the only credential behind my Mexican authenticity detector comes from one spring break spent in Cancun and many nights spent at cheap Mexican restaurants, I don't know how authentic the foods are... but I CAN tell you, if there's a place in the world where the local food tastes like that of TOET, please shoot me a message, so I can start packing. First off, the house salsa bar offers 4 or so different kinds of salsa and pico de gallo. It's out of this world. Seriously, the best salsas ever. They are so incredibly fresh and flavorful- a ton of cilantro and spice and sweetness. There's one with peanut sauce that's really interesting and tasty. I made 2 trips back to fill up the plastic cups with these delicious goodness. The salsa that came with chips and salsa was just regular salsa, so make sure to check out the salsa bar. Then the steak tacos. Seriously, what is going on!? Dio mio! The strips of steak are so juicy and tender and seasoned to perfection. The fish taco had its own merits but definitely overshadowed by the steak taco. They of course have a ton of other options on the menu, all delicious. There's a good selection of beers and drinks to accompany these amazing foods, though not many beers on tap. I got caipirinha, a Brazilian drink that I haven't had in a while, and it was alright, not too strong. My boyfriend got a beer and a gin and tonic. I don't remember the decor too well-- it was pretty chill and homey, a type of place where groups of friends go to shoot the shit and enjoy awesome Mexican food. If you are having a drink or two with appetizers or an entree, the bill can easily add up to $20-$25 per person, so this place isn't exactly a cheap neighborhood Mexican restaurant. But MAN, is it good. I could eat their salsa and pico de gallo by the tub.
(5)
Amy F.

We had not been to El Taco since it changed hands and joined 5th Group. We started with the lime-salted corn chips and house salsa. Paying for chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant is one of my pet peeves, but how can you pass up chips and salsa?! I also found it odd that although there is a nice salsa bar in back, you can't get the "house salsa", which I liked a lot, unless you order the chips. I enjoyed trying the various salsas available at the bar but would like to see slightly larger cup size available so the salsas could be more easily dipped and shared. I ordered two tacos (fried chicken and roasted chicken) and the side of corn. The corn dish and the fried chicken taco were my favorites. Something about the chili-lime mayo on the corn really adds a wonderful flavor. Calvin enjoyed his short stack with pork also. The short stack includes open-faced corn tortillas, red and green chili sauces, refried beans, Mexican cheeses, sunny-side-up egg plus the optional pork. El Taco has a varied and interesting menu and it would be fun to try some of the other items like the fajitas, the Mexican pizzas or the shrimp del diablo.
(3)
Andrew D.

Stopped by here for the first time last night. At first i was a bit dismayed with the charge for chips and salsa. I then noted the Salsa Bar and was very impressed and thus understood that the charge was understandable. An assortment of fresh salsas created me. Some were spicy, some sweet, some roasted. Very nice. I am a big sauce guy. Two thumbs up, I payed for the chips, no problem given this Salsa effort. On to the tacos. I am a taco expert having lived in NY,L.A. and Texas. Too add to that I have dined on some very authentic street food in Mexico City and Tijuana. We tried fish, buttermilk chicken, steak, chorizo and carnitas. The chorizo was interesting. it was large chunks of sausage and strips of roasted green chilies peppers. I was not impressed with the sausage per say, but the roasted pepper was a very nice touch and worked with salsa that was added. As for the Fish Taco, it was good but I really have a hard time signing off on Fish Tacos outside of the West Coast. The Steak Taco was good, with large chunks of steak. That said, it could have used more flavor. The Buttermilk Chicken Taco was great. Original Southern Spin to a Taco. I will buy it, well done! My favorite hands down was the Carnitas Taco. This was VERY GOOD, full of marinated flavor that worked oh so well with the minced onions. Oh man, SO GOOD. I will be back to El Taco to have both of these again! I will also be sure to try the Shrimp Civiche. If any from El Taco reads this, please add Horchata to drink menu. Many families on this Sunday afternoon. Looks like a legit place to bring your young kids on the weekend. Most tables in the joint had kids under 3 years old. I presume the crowd is different on a Friday night, but on the weekends it looks like a nice neighborhood hangout for young families. I will be back.
(4)
Lena C.

Creamy-melty-spicy-meaty-cheesy-wonderfulness translates into Queso Royale. The chorizo, peppers, and onions prove to create a perfect dip! The tacos are enormous, so after an appetizer like the Queso Royale, I'd only order one fish taco next time. Thankfully, that extra red chili steak taco came in handy between bars later that night! Plus, I love games that involve spinning wheels. When you are seated you receive what I now call "taco tokens". The bartender spins the wheel and someone receives something free every hour on the hour! It was a tequila shot and I did not win, but I like the idea.
(4)
Ruth B.

This was one of my all time favorite places when I lived in Atlanta. It's definitely not authentic mexican food, so you have to enjoy it for what it is. It has a very fun atmosphere and a good bar to hang out at while you wait for a table. They are often very generous with the prizes from the wheel. For example, one time when I was there someone at my table won a free shot of tequila and they gave everyone at our table a free shot. I highly recommend the fried chicken taco. The sweet corn it comes with is to die for. I also love the grilled chicken taco and their queso.
(5)
Lisa P.

We started with the classic tastes trio app, which consisted of a salsa, queso and fresh guacamole and lime salted chips. I was looking forward to trying the chips but was a little disappointed that I didn't get a hint of lime. I love queso like fish love water but I really enjoyed their guacamole. The guacamole will definitley be ordered when I return. As an avid user of Stevia I ordered an unsweet tea but was informed by our server they only served sweet. The sweet tea had a taste that I can't put my finger on but I didn't care for it and ordered a Coke to replace it. All was good. I was told by my dad that the trout taco he ordered was very good but I passed on sampling it, I was enjoying my cheese enchiladas, which I had with their tomatillo sauce too much to try anything else. Service: Great. We were greeted with who I assume was the manager. He inquired if this was our first visit ( it was) and told us the way the restaurant worked. We received two wooden coins that would be used when they called out numbers (similar to bingo) once every hour and informed us the winning numbers could win anything from food to beer to gift certificates. And lastly, they have a salsa bar which also had pickled vegetables and a slaw. There were several (around 7 or 8) salsas so there was a variety to choose from. I look forward to returning.
(4)
Carter C.

It has been a long time since I last ate at El Taco, but I went Saturday night for drinks. The frozen mojito is incredible and doesn't skimp on alcohol portion. Two drinks was enough for me. I'll go back just for the mojito. Moreso than the drinks, I will go back for the service. The bartenders were cool guys who know how to endear themselves to the customer. I'm sure the food is great, but I'll be back at El Taco simply for atmosphere, service, and that amazing mojito.
(5)
Deana M.

This place was AWESOME. Everything was fantastic...from the atmosphere (very low key), to the different take on the traditional Mexican taco, to their fantastic guacamole and salsa bar! The price was reasonable and our server was friendly and attentive. We'll be back!
(5)
Lindsay H.

Can't beat the porch and margaritas, but not a fan of the food (with the exception of the salsa, guac and cheese dip--YUM!!). Super family friendly! All around nice place!
(3)
Jamie C.

The Carnitas and Fried Chicken tacos are both very good- the best tacos I have had in Atlanta. The chips and salsa options there are also excellent. Laura N. doesn't know what she's talking about.
(5)
Michael L.

The carnitas are a party in your mouth! I ordered two individual tacos a-la-carte (the way to go!). I ordered a carnitas and a fajita steak taco. Both of them were delicious. I wanted to visit again before leaving town, but we tried going for lunch and they were not open until 5.
(5)
Brian K.

Fifth Group restaurants are normally pretty good, but unfortunately I simply don't understand people's infatuation with this place. Food: El Taco offers a variety of traditional Mexican fare. However, the food is bland, lacks innovation, and is poorly presented. They do have a condiment bar though with a few novel options, so be sure to take a look before settling for what's been served with your dinner. The margaritas were strong, but the variety was far more limited than I'd expected. Service: I've been here twice and the service has been quick and friendly on both occasions. Atmosphere: This place is typically packed, especially on the weekends. Expect to wait at least 25 minutes on a good day. They do have a very lively bar, so get a drink and the time will go by quicker. Price: Inexpensive. Tacos are around $3 each and entrees are in the $8 to $12 range. Other: El Taco does have an outdoor patio, which overlooks North Highland. They also have a prize wheel of sorts that they spin every hour. Upon entry, you're given a wood token with a number on it - if the wheel lands on your number, you win a prize (bar tab, gift certificate, etc.)
(2)
Megi G.

I've tired good and bad things here, but overall I enjoy the atmosphere and the service, so I'm definitely a fan!
(4)
Valerie N.

I went here for a Saturday lunch and thought it was pretty good... What's Great -- Margaritas are super good! Love my Texas margarita, which was like a mimosa, just with tequila instead of champagne - perfect with huevos rancheros! -- Salsa bar with spicy pickled veggies. YUM. -- They recognized the birthday girl with us with a birthday shot - yay! -- Love the spin-the-wheel and get a prize idea. Fab. -- Friendly servers -- People raved over the steak tacos, which looked tasty! What's Not So Great... -- Personally, I thought the food was bland. I think I used half a bottle of Cholula to spice up my huevos. I think I just ultimately prefer the more authentic Mexican restaurants (i.e. I'm not a Chipotle or Moe's fan whatsoever) -- You have to pay for chips and salsa. What???? This is definitely a great place for groups, for drinks, or for sitting outside on a sunny afternoon watching the crowds go by on Highland. I definitely think this place is better for atmosphere and a fun night out than it is for the food... I'd also mention that the lunch menu is drastically different than the regular dinner menu. Maybe dinner is better? I'd suggest it would be worth a try!
(3)
Allison Z.

My update is quick.... You must get the red onion steak tacos when at Original El Taco. They are the best tasting, most delicious tacos known to man. Because of these Mexican goodies, I've given El Taco 4 stars instead of 3. I knew it would happen, just needed to taste the best tacos ever to make it so.
(4)
Maura C.

I wanted to like this place a little bit more, but three stars is just right. I had the guacamole (fine), the Key West margarita (fantastic) and three tacos: fried fish, pork carnitas and mole chicken. The chicken was the best, with a rich and spicy mole sauce, and the fish taco was next, crispy with great garnishes but a little dry. The pork carnitas taco was a bit of a letdown: the pork was chunked, not shredded, and it had no sauce to kind of bring everything together. Fun place to hang out with friends, but the food is hit or miss. Since I don't live in VaHi, I can't see myself coming here a lot.
(3)
Wendy G.

This review is also info for the Mi Casa Su Casa Monthly events. When traveling overseas, one of my favorite traditions I see at restaurants from Italy to Belgium is the practice of family style dining. Big long tables filled with strangers, enjoying great food and drinks together and leaving with new friends. The Original El Taco and Executive Chef Scott Keefer has brought back this awesome tradition with Mi Casa Su Casa, a monthly family dining event for $30. Each month features a new theme and menu of delish eats. The first one is "Run for the Border" on Tues 3/20 at 6:30pm and features dishes inspired by Southern California - a new trend called Baja-Med. All the dishes are so good, you'll feel like you're right eating next to the ocean with Coastal Shellfish 'Stew', Grilled Smoked Oysters, Avocado and Hearts of Palm Salad, and Wood-Grilled Hangar Steak Pinchos. Sip a tasty Moroccan Mule while you indulge in these amazing flavors! Upcoming events: Tues 6/19 - Tequila Cooks! - Assortment of dishes that use Mexico's favorite export as a flavor component. Tues 7/17 - Ay Ay Ay -The great late-night foods of sobering up after a night of clubbing in Mexico City. (Street food!) Tues 8/21 - Sin Horquilla Requerido (No Fork Required) - Exploring the tastiest and most fun hand-held foods from Mexican cuisine. Tues 9/18 - Puebla: Viva la Alemanes - Tastes from the home of the VW Beetle and of Mexican dishes with a German influence. Tues 10/23 - A la Mercado - Dishes featuring uniquely Mexican market ingredients like epazote, cactus, cuitlacoche, jicama, agave and more. Tues 11/27 - Tex-Mex - Original, authentic dishes that have since become Americanized classics. You can buy tix online or via phone, lots of parking behind the restaurant and across the street.
(4)
Steven R.

As a follow up to my last review, I thought I should give an update on the situation. The restaurant manager, Katie, saw my review on here regarding the added tip. The mistake has been remedied and a refund placed on my credit card. This may well have been a mistake and the restaurant has satisfied me that is is an isolated incident. Hats off to Katie for taking an interest in this matter.
(4)
James R.

Love El Taco. Been coming here for years. My only grip is the took the Caesar salad off the menu. PLEASE bring it back!?
(4)
Bill B.

This place is cool good vibes fish tacos are off the chain good margaritas like the location will be back, hell yes !!
(5)
Michele K.

I'm a huge mexican food fan, and it just doesn't get any better than this. Going to El Taco literally makes my week. Wish I could go every week. Try the Nacho Night on Thursdays!!
(5)
Rick F.

I've read many of the reviews, my experience was really good! Everyone from the hostess to the busboy and server were very friendly and helpful. We asked each person what is the best thing on the menu each person had a different item that was there favorite. So we ordered the Guacamole appetizer with a side order of Salsa, Guacamole was excellent, Salsa was not! Chips were hot, fresh and the lime salt was a great addition. They need to kill the Salsa Bar it looked ridiculous, small and dirty, if you can't do it right don't do it at all! Plus the choices were strange and the taste was awful. Pork, Fried Chicken and Steak were all great but the Pork one is my favorite! The corn side dish was highly recommended, now we know why! Fantastic! I'm not a big fan of the hourly Bingo-style game.
(4)
Will P.

Let me be clear: I hate Mexican food. With a passion. Always have, and probably always will. BUT -- and it's a big one -- this joint is jumpin', and I loved it! I'd go on a weekend night when it's buzzing in there with frenetic energy, and they're spinning the freebie wheel. I had a kick-ass margarita and some tasty soft tacos. make sure to get guacamole for the table, too, because it's some of the best I've had. Finally, I implore you: do NOT leave this restaurant without having the Mexico City Grilled Corn in lime mayo side dish. OMG - it is slap-yo-mama-twice good. They list it as a side, but order it with some chips for a starter and I guarantee you'll write later and thank me. :) I had a blast here, and finally... a place where I can enjoy Mexican (to the extent possible for me).
(3)
Jake V.

Great tacos! I'm usually not very impressed by 'dressed-up' mexican places but El Taco is worth the extra few bucks and worth the hype. The fried chicken taco is unbelievable!
(4)
Lydia L.

I wasn't blown away by this taco joint. I do think that it's a great place to gather in VA-Highland, I love the wheel of taco concept- it gets people excited to be there, and the bar staff is attentive. Tried the skinny margarita, the house margarita, and the mojito...all were eh. Mojito recipe has a strange little twist on it that even the bartender admitted he disliked. The waitress was helpful, but almost too aggressive. I finished a drink, and I was asked if I would like another 4 times after politely declining the first. I get it, alcohol=big sales, but a bit too pushy. Tacos were fine. No complaints. Fish, pork, chicken, steak, and chorizo were eaten at the table. Also, who doesn't embrace the 'help yourself to salsa'? Random side note- floors were really slippery, as in I should have been wearing rubber-soled non-slip shoes just to avoid skating around the restaurant. At any rate, OK place, but I wouldn't venture over to the area just for the food. I am a fan of the other fifth group restaurants though...
(3)
Shannon M.

We recently had a work dinner here on a weeknight and the environment was perfect for our group of 8. One of the biggest perks is that this restaurant has circular tables which is great for groups since everyone can hear each other and talk to each other without having to yell down to the other side of the table. Their tacos are fantastic and I gobbled them up so quickly I really wanted to order more. Their drinks are also excellent and their skinny margarita is one of the best I've had in awhile. And of course, what Mexican restaurant doesn't have great chips and salsa? This place does bottomless chips, which I love, and their salsa is great and they have a lot of variety. It also would make a great date spot, though probably not on the weekend since I'm sure it gets packed.
(5)
Lance Z.

I thought it was pretty good and would definitely stop by if I'm in the area, but probably not one of my top destination places when I come into the city. It's a little bit pricey for the portions you get, but the quality was generally good according to what everyone tried. I was there early in the day so didn't try out all the tequilas but they had a very nice sample menu and flights to try.
(4)
Danny L.

Some of the best fajitas I've ever had the pleasure of eating. Good stiff drinks but it is on the pricey side of Mexican food. Good date place, they also hand out one free drink every hour. Good fun with friends too!
(5)
Donnell H.

Where have you been all my life? I must admit I was hesitant to give someone else a shot after many years of being a Taqueria del Sol loyalist but I'm glad I tried this spot tonight. The fried chicken and fish tacos are awesome. What's even better - you don't have to deal with the militant rules you find @ the other place........I'll be back!
(5)
Daniel S.

Fantastic tacos. Not much more to say, just go and get a Fried Chicken taco and taste for yourself.
(5)
Lavon L.

Loved the fried chicken and the steak tacos. Nice, relaxed atmosphere. Great service.
(5)
Shannon C.

The fried chicken tacos and fish tacos are soooooooooo good. That's all I get when I come here. i can always find a parking space easily when I come here, which is great considering the location. Only thing I don't like is that it's always crowded, and I have to wait awhile to get seated. I like the spin the wheel game they play at the top of every hour. If the wheel stops at your number you get something free off the menu. I haven't won yet.
(5)
Elizabeth M.

I found this place through The Fifth Group Restaurants website, but what drew me in were the pictures of the decor. Bright red walls with a mural including Frida and mexican wrestlers! So- we had to check it out. For a Saturday night at 8pm it was moderately full. It was a little noisy inside, so we chose to sit outside on the patio and we were immediately seated. The misters and fans definitely helped cool the air on such a warm night. Our server Danny was awesome! He suggested the skinny margarita-which is now my new favorite way to order one- I loved it! We ordered the Guava Marinated Shrimp just based on Danny's description alone we had to try it. There were 4 big shrimps per order perfect for our table of 4 to have a taste. And they were delicious! For dinner I ordered the vegetarian Mexican pizza and It was very tasty. It was large enough to share with my husband. And we both really enjoyed it and I would definitely order it again. He also ordered 2 shrimp tacos which were also very good. Our friend ordered the fried chicken taco and he claimed that it might be the best taco he ever had. Also when we sat at our table we found 4 numbered poker chips and Danny informed us that they spun the wheel every hour and our table would have the chance to win something for free. We did not win but it did add a fun element to our night. This place is very casual and relaxed, but with great service. Overall we had a great time and will definitely keep this place on our radar!
(4)
Stephanie W.

I don't know why I'm so surprised that I like this place so much. I think maybe the name had me set up to expect "just another mexican place." However, what I found was inventive and flavorful drinks and food, excellent service, and sustainable, seasonal, and organic options. I've gone a couple times on weeknights and found that the service was attentive and the dining room not very crowded at all, providing for a really pleasant atmosphere. Parking can be interesting, but I think it's well worth a visit.
(4)
Jeremy A.

Stopped in tonight excited about some 2 dollar taco tuesday action. Sadly it starts next week. Whoops. Anyways I went for the chorizo, shrimp and fried chicken tacos. I liked the fried chicken ones alot. I also thought it was funny that the waiter told me to hit the salsa bar, yet they charge 2 bucks for chips here. kinda wierd. The chicken taco was enough to come back for the special, but I dont think id go back again and pay full price for the tacos that come ala carte.
(3)
Kelly W.

Best inexpensive tacos yet delicious tacos in Atlanta! Try the fried chicken taco or the green chile enchiladas. Great, fun atmosphere with delicious cocktails. Great family spot earlier in the night, and great date spot later.
(5)
Christine C.

My initial impressions of El Taco were extremely favorable. Tucked into a corner of Va-Hi, El Taco provides a nice change of pace from Atlanta's typical taco joint. The menu is extremely approachable and all the food my friends and I enjoyed was made with extremely fresh ingredients. Why two stars then? At the beginning of our meal my friends and I had decided we wanted to wind down our week with a pitcher of margaritas. After inquiring after the ingredients of El Taco's "house" margarita, the waiter suggested that we might like the "skinny" a little better. Feeling exploratory (and maybe a little calorie-conscious), we took with waiter's suggestion and enjoyed 2 pitchers with our meal. Those margaritas were tasty. So tasty, in fact, that El Taco charges $48 dollars a pitcher for them. Now I realize that our naivete contributed to the situation we found ourselves in when the check came, however, I do feel that it was entirely inappropriate for a waiter to casually recommend a drink of that cost to a group originally expressing interest in the most plebeian margarita possible. For this Drink Deception, I've deemed El Taco unworthy of a favorable review and another visit. Foodies beware, order if you dare (but check your drink prices first!).
(2)
Deanna J.

Wheel of Taco! Wheel of Taco! Ok... so they didn't really do the wheel as one would hope the would do the wheel. I want them to embrace the wheel. Use a microphone or something. We were on the patio and couldn't really hear the wheel (and we begged our server like 5 times to get them to spin the wheel!), but the concept is pretty cool. The table next to us won (but didn't actually hear their number called) but passed on their prize (pitcher of margaritas for half price) to some very excited ladies sitting next to them. El Taco falls into the category of 'Mexican Places You Have To Buy Your Own Chips,' like a few other places in town. But it's ok. The guacamole was some of the best I've had in a while and topped with some decorative radishes (which my friend was totally all about the radish. Go figure.). The Mexican pizzas sounded really good, and that's what I'll have to check out next, but I had the tilapia taco and the steak taco... but the best was the corn. It is bathed in some sort of lime mayo, and tasted great slathered on a taco or used as a dip with chips. A very,very reasonably priced place that will make the list when meeting up with friends or bringing guests from out of town - a laid back atmosphere where you feel comfortable having a long meal, and less expensive than from what I recall of the space's predecessor, Sala. A solid call, easy and free parking (YAY) and realllyy close to where I live. Yes, I would return to you, El Taco. I'll have a margarita in hand and hopes that the Wheel is a-spinnin'!
(4)
Cricket B.

Love the variety of salsas here and the guacamole is very tasty. The red chile steak taco is a favorite. I'm a regular!!!
(4)
Heather P.

I think I like it here. We've only been once, but it was a good experience. On a Saturday in VaHi, we were seated immediately. It's loud, but a good atmosphere. We got some AMAZING, delicious creamy guacamole with really yummy hot, crispy tortilla chips sprinkled with lime (so far beyond Tin Lizzy's that it knocks them off the map.) The salsa bar is fantastic: especially loved the roasted salsa and the tomatillo. The mango-habanero, well... don't say you weren't warned. It starts out candy-sweet from the mango and finishes with a kick in the teeth that would make a lesser woman cry. It. Was. Awesome. (Steer clear of the sweet pickled veg, though. It was good until I bit into something extremely perfume-y that I couldn't identify and it was kinda ick.) We also got frozen mojitos, which were yummy, strong, and definitely unique. I got a salad with chile-de-arbol marinated steak. It came out medium rare, but to be fair I didn't specify. Guess I should have, because it was a little bloodier than I like, but so well-flavored I didn't mind. Smokey enough for me to taste notes of delicious delicious bacon. LOVED the salad... taqueria salads are notorious for taking something healthy and making it into a heart attack, but this salad was mostly fresh veg, medallions of steak, and a sprinkle of tortilla strips and a dash of cotija cheese. Perfect balance, especially when I added marinated cabbage and tomatillo salsa from the salsa bar... Boyfriend got the "short stack" with carnitas and a shrimp taco, both good. Their a-la-carte taco menu is extensive (regular menu is small), which is great for drunk snacks, especially considering their lengthy and reasonably-priced drink menu. We were too full for dessert, which is sad because they have fried apple pie on the menu. Expensive for a taqueria but crazy well-priced for the neighborhood. Not bad at all.
(4)
Angela M.

We went for the top 25 chefs event - amusing, because I don't think I saw one of them there, not that I know any of them, but my friends do, and they were all talking to me, not them, so no chefs... We sat at one of the high-top tables, which we were sharing with a couple of ladies that someone in the party knew. It was good to be close to the bar so that you could order the beer specials since the servers were run a little ragged. They made up for it by giving us several of those chips for the prize wheel, and I was lucky enough to get 45, which would earn me a free pitcher of sangria, but sadly, the little pointer didn't land on 45. We got 5 tacos so that we could taste everything: pork carnitas (a little dry and couldn't really taste anything but the pork), Mexican chorizo (kind of bland for chorizo), crispy pork belly (not that crispy... good flavor, but not a fan of the texture), and my two favorites: fried chicken (deliciously good combination of fried chicken and corn, and I don't even like corn!), red chili steak (crispy onions gave it great flavor and texture and it was still juicy). We also enjoyed a side of guacamole, and their version is just chunky avocado with lime and spices (no onions or tomatoes) which I thought was pretty good, considering it wasn't mine. The service was decent considering the crowd, but there was some confusion over which orders belonged to whom. This happens when everything comes in the same tortilla, such that the only difference between orders appears to be the number of tacos in your basket. For me, it's Fifth Group's knock off of Taqueria del Sol. Good, but not mouth-watering. At least the service was friendlier than at TdS.
(3)
Dio S.

Enjoyed the food the two times I've eaten here. They specialize in tacos with fairly substantial fillings each with different recipe combining varied ingredients (but featuring a main meat) cooked different ways. This is in contrast to the canonical meat/onion/cilantro combo all cooked pretty much the same way, that you find at those little places on Buford Highway. Fried fish taco is by far the best one of the bunch. Not only is it fresh and tasty but also the only one where the combination worked well. Carnitas, shrimp, chicken, and beef are very decent. Chorizo is not very good. I liked the ingredients for the fried chicken taco, with creamed corn, but it didn't work too nicely in a taco. Black beans are finely pureed and above average. There are many tequilas and Margaritas are, as I kind of expect from a 5th Group restaurant, very nice. The same with service, friendly and attentive. Each taco is pre-set to come in a corn or a flour tortilla, like it's part of the recipe. I don't know how they decided these things. Anyway the flour tortilla here are just awful. I've been eating mainly made from scratch corn tortillas for a long time now, so I am especially unhappy with these insipid things. Tacos would be so much better if tortilla is improved. Salsas and condiments are centralized at a station. About 6 different salsas plus some pickled veges, which I appreciate. Don't like that lime and cilantro are at the station, though. I would prefer them to come with the tacos or at least be right on the table. Also, the cups are tiny (that's what she said?). You will likely need multiple trips and that can be a bother. A meal, I would say 3 tacos, cost $10 and that's not counting chips which are an extra $2.50 charge, and also not counting any sides. Kind of pricey for tacos. Atmosphere, very "lunching ladies" especially on the patio, well it's Virginia Highland. Overall a decent place, but not a place I would think of going unless I am right there.
(3)
Leiana J.

Given my love for Tacqueria del Sol, I have a hard time saying El Taco is my favorite tacqueria in Atlanta... but I think I have to give credit where it's due. They have a great selection, including burgers, salads, the classic tacos and enchiladas, plus a gluten friendly menu and a salsa bar. Their tacos are a class above their equivalents at Tacqueria del Sol. The service is pretty good. They have indoor and outdoor seating, both of which are comfortable and boast a sophisticated, yet casual, dÃ©cor. Also, they have an hourly raffle for door prizes, like t-shirts, free food, etc.
(5)
D L.

Went for first time on Tuesday. Good service. Good, lively atmosphere. For four people we paid $44, which I think is a pretty good meal. Tacos: - Chorizo - Fried Chicken - Grilled Chicken - Red Chile Steak - ... something else I recommend you order the guacamole dip, fried chicken taco, and red chile steak taco. Good stuff.
(3)
Ben M.

Love it. I eat there once a week. Usually get El Short Stack with grilled chicken and a side if corn.
(5)
Lauren O.

As this was our first visit, my boyfriend and I wanted to try as much of El Taco's offerings as possible. We got their chips and queso blanco, which is a creamy, flavorful dip made of what tastes similar to jack cheese. We grabbed their roasted salsa as well as the pico de gallo from the taco bar, both of which were good but not as spicy as I would've liked. We split a Mexican pizza with carnitas, and the flavorful pork shoulder topping that didn't disappoint. We also shared some tacos, the best of which was the roasted chicken, which had a smoky-sweet taste like that of chipotle peppers and bacon. The fried chicken taco Yelpers rave about was fine, but not as tasty as the roasted. The trout taco was delicious, fresh and perfectly complemented by the cabbage slaw on top of it. The one I would never order again was the red chili steak, which just tasted... weird. Too sweet and not at all like beef. Our server was great - helpful and courteous. Fun place with good food. I'll be back.
(4)
Jordan S.

Simple good food. Mix and match, as all the tacos are great. A great place to meet friends before going out. The wheel of taco kicks ass too!
(3)
George H.

Came on the night that Jennifer Anniston and Paul Rudd were here and it really added to this review. They were seated a table away and it was fun seeing celebrities in Atlanta. Ok now the food, the guacamole was super fresh and tasted like they made it table side although is isn't. The queso was also a little spicy and went really well with the chips. Tried the fish taco and the chicken enchilada. This was the best enchilada I have ever tasted, but I am also a big fan of their salsa verde. The fish taco much more fish than Taqueria del Sol's. The taste though didn't quite match up and I miss the jalapeÃ±os.
(4)
Ariella S.

El Taco is very very yummy. The I can't say that the Mexican food is the most authentic, but there is definitely Atlanta-culinary scene influence on it that makes me come back for both the ambiance as well as the food. Every hour they spin a wheel with numbers on it correlating to tokens you are given upon being seated. If the wheel lands on your token number you get some sort of goodie (usually free margaritas, yummmmm). Everybody likes a little free something, no matter who you are. I am obsessed with salsa, and the fact that they have a salsa bar with a beautiful array of different flavored salsas and pickles veggies makes me incredibly happy. I always order shrimp or chicken fajitas which are great paired with the guacamole and various salsas. The fried chicken tacos are also out of this world and extremely unique to this type of cuisine. MUST try the Mexican Pizzas. They are essentially a tostada with various Mexican flavored toppings it. It's a "Grilled flatbread with vegetarian refried black beans, tomato, shaved lettuce, avocado, radish, two Mexican cheeses, crema and hot peppers--this one's big enough for one hungry hombre or to share with the whole table." DELICIOUS. Great place to eat and have a drink. Or five.
(4)
John H.

When I give 4 or 5 stars for a place, it's usually due to a combination of things. However, the key drivers are usually service and atmosphere. Food does factor in, but I will give a place 4 or 5 stars if i truly enjoy the experience. El Taco doesn't have 5 star food that some places do. However, it makes up for it in service and atmosphere. First, let me commend three bartenders there. It is without a doubt, a place that I will almost always sit at the bar while visiting. Brandon, Hillary, and new addition Danny are all very good. Another thing I always pay attention to is how the bartenders (no I will NOT call them mixologists) interact with customers. The El Taco crew definitely take the time to interact. It adds quality and fun to the experience. Brandon and Hillary are wicked fun here. Danny is a good addition on Sundays when I need my hangover fix of Belvedere, Soda, and extra limes. Hydrate! Hydrate! The food is still pretty good, but it's what keeps this place from getting a 5th star. I love the Queso Royale, steak taco and pork tacos. Past that, I'm coming for the bar and atmosphere. I like to think of El Taco as one of the perfect places to start out the night, nosh on alcohol absorbing foods, and leave with a smile. Go say hey to Brandon, Hillary, or Danny and get one of the better Agave/Lime Juice based Margaritas in Atlanta too.
(4)
TheEatist K.

Oh my freaking YUM!! -ROASTED CHICKEN cilantro, crema, "just-crushed" guacamole, (I got fresh jalepenos instead of fried), flour tortilla -GRILLED SHRIMP dried tomatoes, pickled cabbage, lime, corn tortilla -YUMZ! -RED CHILI STEAK crispy onions, tomatillo-lime salsa, flour tortilla Good Lord these were all delicious! The steak was crispy/seared and looked well done but was tender. And the flavor...oh the flavor of all three -chicken was not greasy, simply tender and delicious. The grilled shrimp was perfectly firm yet tender and bursting with flavor. I made an utter pig of myself and it was pretty cheap too : ) I didn't bother with any of the fancier stuff on the menu and boy am I glad! Happily fed for less is the best.
(4)
Kabeer K.

Went there for Dinner on Saturday Night. The place has a nice vibrant atmosphere and very friendly staff.. The menu sounds delicious and the tacos sounds like the best tacos you will every eat. However, the delivery in the kitchen falls short. They served our tacos in record time, but for a sit down place, I am not sure that is necessarily a good think, especially if you miss out on some ingredients. I ordered a Friend Chicken Taco and a red chili beef taco. The friend chicken was hot, just out of the fryer and the breading was perfect. However, there was not much else in the taco. Essentially a piece of fried chicken in a tortilla. The taco is supposed to have grilled corn in chili-lime mayo and crumbled Mexican cheese. I had a little bit of corn but there was no sign of the crumbled cheese. As for the Chilli beef taco, the beef was a little dry and not "Red Chili" enough. I was hoping for a lot more flavor. The Crispy onions that are supposed to be inside the tortilla were also missing. Overall, I would come back to give them a second chance, but I think they should take a little extra time in the kitchen and spend some more time constructing their tacos. If i want good tacos at lightning speed, you will find me at Taqueria Del Sol.
(3)
Jessica R.

I pretty much love this place. I probably would have never eaten there if not for the fact that my sister managed here for a few years. First let me say how much i LOVE when i frequent a place and a bartender knows what I want to drink and has it ready minutes after walking in the door. Brandon ALWAYS starts me with my regular and follows up with his latest DELICIOUS concoction. I have tried all the tacos and barring my own personal taste....i enjoyed them all. personal favorites...fried chicken (the corn....sllllp!) grilled chicken (the combo of fried jalapenos and avocado...delish!) love the salsa bar, the palermo margaritas. in general, i love to dine here. and the prices are not bad at all.
(5)
R W.

Hmmm how can I put this nicely... I don't think I can. " WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT I JUST ATE???" ordered the fish Taco and two Pollo asada "tacos" (if that's what they want to call it.) AWFUL took two bites and threw the rest out. I don't know what the hell they are aiming at with the weird favors, toppings, and greasy meat and cheese but this is the worst!
(1)
Ravi R.

This is easily the most overrated restaurant in the Highlands. It is always busy for some reason and the tacos are overpriced, small and not good. The enchiladas are similarly dismal. The margaritas are decently sized, but they are way too sweet and not strong at all. I couldn't taste any tequila. Try any other taco place in the area and it will probably be better.
(2)
Chad T.

Never disappoints! If you go to El Taco, then you MUST get a fried chicken taco and the El Big Boy Margarita. It's $10.25... and well worth it! The atmosphere is high energy with a lot of commotion. I wouldn't take a date here, but it's a great place for a group of friends.
(5)
Steve V.

Great place for drinks! Awesome margaritas here. Food is above average. When you enter, they give you a numbered token. Every hour, they spin a huge wheel with prizes if your number comes up. I recently won! Free chips and salsa. There are much bigger prizes, but I'll take what I can get. There is a large bar in the front and a nice semi-outdoor/patio area. Every time I go, it is pretty busy...which I guess is a good sign. If there is a wait at another restaurant in the area, worth stopping here for a drink while you wait too.
(4)
Mahsa G.

It's a cute restaurant/bar with neat paintings on the wall, and a random hourly draw that could win you a free drink! The fried tacos and corn were really good. The margarita was ok, but I would order it again. They also have a salsa bar - and being a huge fan of moe's I loved it. Some of the salsas I did not like at all but my friend loved, so there's something for everyone.
(4)
Neil S.

We hit up The Original (not the fake) El Taco tonight to grab some good Mexican food and margaritas, and we weren't disappointed. Since we were at El Taco, we thought it appropriate to order... well... tacos. Best: Red Chili Steak. A Close Second: Fried Chicken. Others, Also Good: Shrimp, Pork Carnitas According to the waiter, the fried chicken tacos are their most popular, but our table's consensus was that red chili steak is the way to go. We also got the Surf 'n Turf fajitas, which were decent. Their Mexican pizzas are gigantic (10 inch, if I remember correctly) and, according to others, good. The margaritas were muy delicioso. Top notch salt. And there's not much you can mess up with a Tecate Tall Boy, short of serving it warm (which El Taco didn't.) The Wheel of Fortune (tm) was spinning as we walked in on the hour. If the wheel lands on the number you're given by the host as you're seated, you win. We won a couple of Modelo pint glasses that we immediately poured our Tall Boys into. We went to The Original El Taco for the food; we'll be returning for the food (tacos) and fun... beware of impostors.
(4)
Tania S.

Introduced by my sister, my brother-in-law, and their two crazy kids... el taco does not disappoint... with the best queso, frozen mojitos, and tacos in the ATL. Yes, taqueria in decatur is ridiculous, but as far as sit-down, good atmosphere for the whole family with an hourly spin-the-wheel game, el taco in virgina highlands wins hands down. Did I mention the frozen mojitos? Just note that that the individual glasses are cheaper than the pitchers - it's strange but true. Only problem as I sit here watching seinfeld reruns on the couch with the hubbie, is that the laughter is shaking up all the chips, queso, mojitos, and tacos, and I had wished I had more discipline at el taco esta noche.
(4)
Heather P.

My best friend and I tried El Taco out last summer after driving by nearly every day. We were fierce Taqueria del Sol fans... keyword, were. El Taco is the new Taqueria, at least in our book. I've had a little bit of everything at El Taco... fajitas, the mexican "pizza," tacos and sides. If you're a first timer, play it simple and go with the tacos. The mexican pizza was a miss for me, simply because it was too cumbersome to eat. Steak fajitas are great. I usually stay away from anything with shrimp in it here though... there is a fishy taste that overpowers it to me. The black beans with crema are amazing -- give them a try, even if you don't like black beans. They have the texture of refried beans, and the crema adds a really good flavor to them. The corn is a great side too, and is a great addition to the fried chicken taco. As far as tacos go, try the red chili steak, the fried chicken, and the grilled chicken. And please don't forget the margaritas. I don't know what they put in them, but they taste unlike any margarita I've had in Atlanta. You'll encounter a line on Friday and Saturday nights, but that can be said for most places in the Highlands. Service is great, even when they're slammed. If you like Taqueria del Sol, you'll love El Taco.
(4)
Tracy J.

Found this restaurant on Groupon while we were in Atlanta. It was a $20 cab ride from Downtown but well worth. Enjoyed exploring a different neighborhood in Atlanta. Food was reasonably priced....ended up spending about $12 per person on food. The waiter recommended the fried chicken taco...sounded odd to me but I gave it a whirl. I was not disappointed! We also tried the steak and fish which were both good as well. Margaritas were are prices reasonably....a pitcher of house margaritas in only $25. They are made with real citrus juices unlike a lot of places that blast you with roses lime juice and some sort of bottled sour mix.. They have a wheel of prizes that spin every hour. When you are seated they give you a token with a number on it. If your number hits you recive something free....margarita, beer, guac, ect. We won a free Pacifico. Not a huge prize but adds some excitement to your dinner. If you are looking for traditional Mexican cuisine, not really the spot for you. But if you are looking for a relaxing time with drinks and small bites....this place is the way to go.
(4)
Emily B.

Meh. The food was alright and definitely over priced. I had the smoked chicken tacos and a veggie taco and my husband got the el short stack that really didn't look appetizing at all. The service was great though.
(3)
Bill H.

Great place. The short rib enchilada is a must have. Unique Mexican food
(5)
Bianca W.

I really liked this place. It was our first time, so we sat at the bar. The bartender gives you these chips with numbers on them, and every few minutes someone spins the wheel, and you win whatever is associated with the number chosen. I got the enchiladas which were mediocre, but my bf's fajitas were the bomb.com !! The margaritas were also very tasty!! Loved the atmosphere.
(3)
Clayton W.

This is definitely not Mexican food, and any place that charges for chips automatically loses a star (tip - give me salty things for free and I'll probably buy more drinks!). But the not-really-carnitas carnitas, as much as it pains the purist in me to say, was delicious. Especially with big scoops of the cowboy beans and free salsa piled into the tortilla. This won't be my Mexican go-to spot, but for a lighter dinner close to home and a couple drinks out on the patio, it will do quite nicely.
(3)
Taylor A.

I only have two words for you....CHIRIZO TACO. YUM (ok, that was technically 3 words)
(3)
David W.

Even after all the hype, it took me until last Friday night to finally try this place. My high expectations were definitely met and I've already been back a second time. The tacos were excellent. I had the fish, carnitas, and fried chicken tacos the first night. The carniats and fried chicken ones were especially good. I had the short stack on my recent visit with some carnitas pork added on top and it was delicious! I can't even explain what it was (I know it had beans in it and a fried egg on top), but I loved it. The atmosphere was also great. Both waiters/waitresses I had were in a great mood and were very helpful. There is also a drawing every hour to win cool stuff like T-shirts and tequila shots.
(5)
Laura H.

Pros: - We had a groupon. - 45 minute wait (for four) ended up being only a 20-30 minute wait. - The skinny margarita (tequila, agave, triple sec) was a hit at our table. - Great salsa bar... something for everyone. - Loved the green chile chicken enchiladas... loved them. Reasonably priced (given the portion) at $7.50. - Non-smoking! Cons: - It took us 10 minutes to find a really tight (anxiety-inducing) parking spot. - The service was okay - kind of impersonal and rushed, which I didn't understand since we were all drinking. - The dining room floor is so "slippery when in heels" that I almost wiped out on my way to the salsa bar. - We were comparing everything to Tin Lizzy's (our favorite local spot) the entire time, and the chips, prices and scene at El Taco didn't favorably compare. I would go back for the green chile chicken enchiladas alone... they were that good!
(3)
Laura N.

I was very surprised to find how much I enjoyed the food, even if it is NOT authentic Mexican. Chips - 3 stars. average tortilla chips. nothing special. Salsa - 4 stars. very good and fresh. The house salsa is excellent, but I also like the variety of salsas here! Queso - 5 stars. thick, creamy, and flavorful. Love it. Pork Carnitas Taco - 5 stars. a little salty but so flavorful and delicious. Fried Chicken Taco - 5 stars. very good. loved the corn and cheese. Green chili chicken enchiladas - 5 stars. very cheesy, large, and delicious. Flan - 5 stars. this thing was tiny, but it was so tasty with its pineapple garnish. Apple pie - 4 stars. warm, delicious, looks like a piece of . . . fried fish. haha I did not care much for the atmosphere. Good for large groups.
(4)
Dave K.

The Original El Taco has been a huge hit among my friends since we wandered in randomly a couple of years ago. It's been said a million times already, but the fried chicken taco is a taco par excellence--the corn salad (which you can order as a side) really makes it. The queso royale is also delish. I also really like the fried fish taco smothered in habanero salsa. Mmm. Weird tip: You probably want to check my math on this, but I think the last time I was in there with friends we noticed that the classic margaritas are cheaper by the glass than by the pitcher--the pitcher doesn't seem to quite fill four glasses. Go fig.
(5)
Todd P.

Ay caramba! The restaurant biz must be tough. Despite a few recent tough reviews, I have to say my experience wasn't too bad when dining at El Taco with a group of friends. I'd only been one time before, so I can't comment on any trends. Here's what I had: Sangria -- It was delicious, definitely sweet, hit the spot on a warm day. Frozen Mojito -- I had to taste this drink that goes for $40 a pitcher. Packs quite the punch. Nice. Queso royale - chorizo, onions, and jalapenos in white cheese with seasoned chips. If you're like me, melted cheese is practically irresistible. Toss in a few extra goodies and it's a home run. Carnitas taco -- plenty of meat, nice flavors. Chorizo taco -- loved the spizy zing. Grilled scallions - awesome! The price point is on the high side for the quantity of food, but I've gotten used to dropping $30-50 for a night out with friends so I wasn't completely shocked at my bill for the evening. While I wouldn't dine here regularly, I wouldn't intentionally steer away if I was in the mood and in the neighborhood.
(3)
Emily R.

Like Lauren S., my latest trip to OET was less than fantastic. I took my brother there for dinner last night and found the food and service to be lacking. I also had tough corn drowning in mayo, as well as really overcooked/dry fish tacos and extra salty carnitas. Dinner that should have taken under an hour, took almost two because the servers disappeared for upwards of 10 minutes at a time or stood around chatting with friends. It took so long to get the check I was tempted to just leave. The only redeeming point of the experience was the fro mo was as tasty as I remembered, but for nearly $50 for the two of us for 2 drinks, a bowl of guac, and 3 tacos a piece plus corn, that is ridiculous. I won't be back. P.S. To add insult to injury, they are cheating with the Wheel of Taco. While we were there they spun and announced a winner, but no one had that chip, I'm sure it was in the half full jar at the desk, and they didn't spin again. Booo! Hisss! You stink!!
(2)
Chris A.

Really good food. The chips, salsa, guac, and queso set us back about $13.00 but you are in Virginia Highlands. We went here for Mother's Day and sat on the screened porch area on a great day. Our foursome tried the fried chicken, chorizo, fried fish, and smoked chicken tacos. All were excellent. If in the area, this is a must for Mexican.
(4)
Melissa B.

I think my favorite part is probably the layout/decor of the place. The front patio (heated!) is a great spot and the bar inside is big. Service was slow at first, but then after our first drinks the bartender was more friendly and attentive. Good taco selection, solid drink list, and great space. Worth a second try from me to try more tacos and hang out.
(3)
Daniel B.

Went here on a Thursday night. The parking lot for this place can be a little tight, but luckily I was able to find an open spot. We got the lime-salted corn chips for an appetizer and then I tried a few of their tacos - pork carnitas, crispy pork belly, and Mexican chorizo. Everything was decent. The pork belly was probably my favorite. They have a salsa bar, which is nice. Also when you eat here, they give your table a number and at some point(s) throughout the night, they spin this wheel-of-fortune type wheel where you can win free stuff. Service was good.
(3)
Kathleen M.

I arrived at El Taco for the January Tweet Up. ... and didn't walk out till about 4 hours later. Yikes. And yeah, it was a good time. I ordered the carnitas Mexican pizza and it was mighty tasty. Well marinated and tender pork, fresh avocados, and a nice crispy crust. Plus, it was HUGE. I could only finish about a third of it, and I came in really freaking hungry. The margaritas proved to be far too sweet for my liking, but the Tecates with lime went down reeeeal easy. I also really liked the crowd: a nice mix of old folks, young folks, kids for dinner, and the like. Definitely a friendly neighborhood joint and much better this 2nd time around. I'll be sure to check back in to make sure it's consistent with the latter experience.
(3)
Josh G.

Spin the wheel, make a deal. This is a great spot to party. The tacos are decent, but it's all about getting lit.
(3)
Brandon B.

I would give this place 4 stars if it had better consistency. Some days it's great, others not so much. The constant, however, is those ever-potent frozen mojitoes! I would like to think I can handle my liquor, but those frozen bastards will get you by the boo boo! When you start grabbing the nearby pinata and taking pictures with friends, you know the mojitoes have once again taken over your night. Those things are super sweet and they pack a lot of booze. Be sure to bring a seeing-eye dog so it can guide you back home after a night here. Oh, I would also like to give honorable mention to the grilled corn here. Great great stuff. I appreciate the chile relleno taco as well.
(3)
Pranjal V.

The tacos are alright. My fav - chicken posole. Hot, spicy and lots of flavor.
(3)
Chris B.

Fried chicken tacos - 5 stars Pork belly tacos - 4 stars Margaritas - 4 stars Sounds like a solid 4 star review to me! But seriously, you've gotta try the fried chicken tacos, delicious! I also like the little spin-the-wheel-for-prizes gig that they do every hour, maybe a little hokey but a nice way to keep everybody on their toes, haha. I'll definitely be back to try some new menu items soon!
(4)
Courtney D.

Dear El Taco, I love you. With your delicious & dangerous fro-mos, and your tantalizing & tasty tacos...you put me in a comatose, and I love every minute of it. And the fact that I always win a shot of tequila or cheese dip with your intriguing spinning wheel never hurts either ;-) However, please bring back the chicken taco from the beginning...I do miss it, though the new rendition is quite fabulous. Maybe have both? One can never have enough chicken-ey goodness. That is all for now. I'll dream of your chorizo till next time. Gracias. Love, Courtney
(5)
Todd B.

I read the reviews on this place before I went. Everyone raved about the fried chicken tacos, so that's what I got the first time I went. They are amazing. I've been back a couple times and I can't order anything else because I love them so much. The fried chicken tacos are "as good as it gets" so that gives them 5 stars. If you tell me 5 stars is too much for this place because you don't like something you had there, I'll tell you "don't order it." I'll tell you to "get the fried chicken tacos". If you tell me you don't like the fried chicken tacos, I'll tell you "You're crazy."
(5)
M V.

Was good when it opened. Tired of the menu. Nothing ever changes here.
(3)
Mike J.

Nothing to brag about here - stale chips and margaritas that taste like orange juice. There is too much good Mexican in Atlanta to waste time here.
(2)
Perry ..

Service was top notch. As typical with most visits to Mexican restaurants, we had a large group. Server had no trouble or complaints over splitting margaritas and queso over multiple checks. Speaking of margaritas, I found theirs to be very tasty. Chorizo was not the best i've had but red chile steak taco was excellent.
(3)
Ryan D.

I really wanted to love this place, but after my first visit I just couldn't. The atmosphere was fun, and the patio was great. We were able to walk right in and grab a great seat right on the sidewalk. The waitstaff was friendly, quick and accurate. I love the game they play on the hours with the prizes being raffled off. It makes for a bit of fun during what might be a normal meal. With all that said we ordered chips ans salsa right off the bat and the chips were as stale as stale could be. We send them back and same thing again. I didn't bother to send them back a second time because it goes against everything in my soul to do so. The salsa was good, but not great. Up next were a few house margaritas. I opted for the house over a Texas because I wanted to see how good the place really is. You can tell a lot about a Mexican restaurant from their house marg. These things were no better than something I've had at a college concert drink stand. So far they violated the 2 main things I require in a Mexican restaurant...Bad chips and mundane margs. I ordered the Traditional Mexican Pizza, and it was pretty good. I enjoyed eating something different, the use of romaine lettuce over iceberg and a nice sized portion. Not too bad...I'd definitely order it again. The real kicker for me for the evening was the fried chicken taco. I ordered one because of all the hype surrounding them. Let me tell you friends that the rumors are true! That's a tinny piece of heaven right there! Ok, so with a good meal, a great single taco why the 2 star rating you ask. I'm giving it 2 stars because without good house margs and chips and salsa it's lacking in soul as a traditional Mexican restaurant.
(2)
Heather M.

Good: - We went on a Tuesday night at 7:30 & didn't have to wait for a table. - The waitress gave us suggestions of her favorites. - The chips & salsa were pretty good & I liked the idea of having a salsa bar. Bad: - No one offered to refill our water until after we got the check--even then, it was the hostess rather than our waitress. - The steak in the steak taco was so fatty & stringy I literally couldn't chew it & had to keep spitting it out in my napkin. - I gave up on the steak & switched to the fried chicken taco. It had one measly strip of fried chicken & some sort of corn salsa that was so sweet it would've been better as dessert. - No one really explained the tokens to us except "they're for the taco wheel" and, when we asked "what is the taco wheel?" we were told "we spin it once an hour & give away prizes." Way to upsell customers & get them to stick around longer by ordering more drinks or dessert! - Tacos were $3.50 - $3.95 each Overall, this place has nothing on Taqueria del Sol or Holy Taco. Since both of those places have much better food at lower prices, I'd rather just go to either of those, even though it means a longer drive.
(2)
Karl H.

Hit this place on a rainy Tuesday so it wasn't too busy, but it sure does seem like a great place to drink too much beer. They give you a token w/ a # on it when you walk in -- then spin a wheel every hour. If it lands on your #, you get the special on the wheel...not bad! Tacos were better than I expected (chicken & carnitas), though pricier than expected for a taco. The salsa -- not that great.
(3)
Bobbin W.

I'm a total taco fiend and was really excited to sample the tortilla delights The Original El Taco has to offer. I approached the restaurant from Amsterdam Avenue and completely missed the door, skulking past the plastic covering, around the other side of the building before I realized the entrance is located at the side facing Amsterdam. Anyway, my coworker Walter R. was already there waiting for me, not that it mattered at 6 p.m. on a Tuesday--the place was pretty empty. Neither of us had time to eat lunch that day, so we began our feast with the wood-grilled beef skewer appetizer, oozing with smoked jalapeÃ±o oil and flavorful juice. Starving, I scarfed a triumvirate of tacos: the fried tilapia (filled with avocado, sunflower sprouts and habanero salsa--pretty good, although I would have liked a fat layer of melted cheese); fried chicken (stuffed with corn, lime mayo and cheese, although the layer of cheese could have been fatter); and Mexican chorizo (my least favorite by far, including grilled peppers and onions, radish slices--interesting but not good raw--and a lil cheese). After I had inhaled my first taco, the waitress informed Walter R. and me of the condiment bar--a cart offering a variety of salsas and toppings. Too bad there wasn't any extra cheese... The best part of the evening was when a young man brought me a glass of beer. "And a Guinness for you," he brightly smiled, sliding the frosty glass in front of me. (I don't remember what beer it was--I'm just saying Guinness.) And I was like, "Okay...thanks." And he was all, "You want it, don't you?" And I answered, "Sure, why not? I appreciate it." Turns out someone else had ordered the beer, and he accidentally was delivering it to my table. "Oh darn," I told him. "I thought you were insinuating you find me attractive by bringing me a beer. But now I see you work here." Oopsie. Anyway, I didn't think the tacos were that great, but they weren't horrible either. I'm partial to Six Feet Under's combo taco plate, and nothing will pull it down from its ethereal pedestal--not The Original El Taco, at least.
(3)
Dexter M.

One of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta and definitely the best taco joint in the city. You've got to try the fried chicken taco! All their meat is organic so you'll never have to worry about what it is you're eating - it's real. Not a fan of their mojitos but their sangria is absolutely awesome.
(5)
Hamad M.

First of all, don't look at 3 stars as being bad. Too many reviewers (myself included) might be a little too liberal with the 5 star review. A Five star review should mean that the place or service is flawless. El Taco is a fine place. Let's weigh the following in order of best to worst: Service - excellent. Getting your name in and seated, to the waitstaff, everything here is well above average. Atmosphere - great. It's a fun atmosphere a little on the loud side, but the loud probably enhances the fun. Maybe a little noise reduction would help. Food - good. Everthing I've had I've liked though I can't say one thing stands out as being great. The chips & queso are yummy, and the salsa bar offer some really nice flavors. I like the smokey salsa that is reminiscent of Willy's salsa that I eat like it's my last meal everytime I go. Drink - ok. Beers and margartias are fine, but there is no sweet tea. At least they sell Coke products instead of Pepsi. That would be a deal-breaker. Overall, I like the place. The food can improve some, but in it's current form, it's a nice alternative in the VaHi neighborhood.
(3)
Katie W.

To me, the name sounds too much like Del Taco and brings back memories of late-night drive-thrus, crappy tacos and too many packets of Del Scorcho sauce. Despite the similar name and its connotations for me, The Original El Taco is decidedly different from Del Taco. To start off, the staff is friendly. Very friendly. The host/hostess stand people were nice, the bartenders were nice and our server was nice. Our server was also efficient and we received our food quickly, although she did get a few things wrong about the menu (she recommended an item that didn't exist and made a questionable recommendation on a substitution) but overall she was fine. And, she made sure we had enough chips and that we were aware of when we won our cheese dip - woo hoo! The cheese dip was good, too, and probably even better because it was free. We stuck to tacos and I tried three of them: the fried chicken, rellenos and the fried tilapia. The rellenos taco comes on a crunchy corn shell but our server highly recommended substituting a soft flour tortilla instead. I think this was a bad recommendation. The chile relleno is very soft and it would have been fantastic with a crunchy corn tortilla. It was still pretty good but I think it could have been better and I do want to try it again. The fried chicken taco was very good, probably my favorite. The tilapia taco was good once I dressed it up with the sauces and condiments from the salsa bar. My friends did not dress theirs up and they all commented that it was bland. I also ordered the grilled corn and it was very tasty (I put extra cilantro from the salsa bar in it, too). And, we had the frozen mojitos. They earn a star unto themselves. The rest of the menu sounds interesting and it is all still pretty reasonably priced. I do plan to venture beyond tacos on future visits. The decor is nice. I like the casual setting, pretty reasonable prices and potent drinks. It's fun. I think it's a good neighborhood spot (TONS of kids in there with their families around 6:30 on a Thursday) but I will venture here again even though it's not in my neighborhood. I also like the big parking lot and that I do not have to valet park my car.
(3)
Sherry W.

WOW!!! I got to go to the family/friends event over the weekend and was blown away!! First and foremost, the frozen mojito is bar none, the best drink I've ever had. It is a must try. The frozen margarita was amazing too- so unique and flavorful! You have to try the beef skewers appetizer, it was so good. My husband had the fried tilapia taco and said it was phenomenal! I had the Mexican pizza and it was great- fresh avocado, really really delicious. This is exactly what VaHi needs, a cool "joint" you can hang out, be dressy or casual and have a great time! WE'LL BE BACK!
(5)
Leah V.

i still cannot believe how packed this place gets based on the abnormally lackluster food, especially for a fifth group establishment. i have been twice, and both times, i walked away with a sad face. if i'm going to pay that much for tacos, they better be tasty! the plus is the frozen mojito, but even that is not anything special. on the upside, the service is good. on the downside, the place is crawling with the "hey, let's go to the highlands!" crowd. if you don't know what that means...then, well...
(2)
Michelle M.

Alas, I finally got to check out the infamous Original El Taco with my dinner group. This restaurant is proudly owned by the Fifth Restaurant Group and has some interesting history. I must preface my rating with the fact that I don't do 4 or 5 stars until I get to sample enough food on the menu. I hope to come back soon and update my review. Perhaps I should talk about the food and save the history of the restaurant for the end of this review.... Hmm, chips are decent (I prefer them to be a little thinner). They are supposedly lime flavored, which I didn't really notice. We ordered their queso, queso with chorizo and guac. Let's just so good, yummy and delish. Everyone's favorite by far was the guac. It was so wonderfully creamy and rich. We speculated that it might have heavy cream in it but we asked- just avocado, lime and salt. I ordered a chorizo and carnitas taco. The chorizo, although not very spicy, was wonderful. (Ecco makes the chorizo from scratch and sells it to El Taco and would LOVE to be able to buy this) The carnitas taco was also good, but I must admit that I think I do like Tacqueria's carnitas taco a tiny bit better. Someone else ordered an enchilada that looked quite yummy and will be bringing me back soon. The atmosphere and service here would bring me back any day. Other THINGS THAT ARE GREAT about this restaurant include the SERVICE, the variety of SEATING & ATMOSHPERE (inside, outside, high top tables, regular tables, the bar...), the SALSA BAR (i'm the queen of condiments), the flour TORTILLAs that they use in their soft tacos are wonderfully delicate with a hint of something that makes it taste more authentic and good. I also liked the wheel of taco even though we didn't win anything. :-( It was still FUN. ok... I'm tired so I'll have to come back later to update the history. Once I have the pleasure of eating more food here I may upgrade to 4 stars too!
(3)
Kelly O.

Fried chicken taco and pork belly taco were awesome - the pieces of fried chicken were huge compared to tacos at places like Taco Stand and Tin Lizzy's, and the pork belly was really flavorful. There was one really hot pepper hidden in there, but once I took a bite that almost set my mouth on fire, I removed the pepper and happily enjoyed the sweeter cole slaw flavor of the taco. The chips were especially good too, they put some type of seasoning on them which is quite tasty, but the salsa is nothing to write home about. Margaritas are also top notch, especially for the price, you get a huge glass for only $6, but they are definitely more sour than sweet. We had to wait about 45 minutes last Friday night, but there is lots of room to hang out outside and have a drink, so it wasn't terrible to have to wait. Overall some of the best tacos in Atlanta, I can't wait to go back and try more!
(4)
Roshni J.

The food was good, but the service was awful. We waited 20 minutes to order drinks and when we ordered were told they were out of the tequila for our pitcher. We were offered another that would be 'a little bit more'. When we got the bill it was 40 percent or 15 dollars more. The waiter argued and said "well it's not quite 50 percent more"- regardless it was far from my definition of a little bit. When we complained they didn't have the courtesy to make any adjustment. I'm not going back and don't recommend that you do either.
(2)
Nicholas b.

Had the pleasure of visiting during the friends and family week. (four out of five stars because the menu was very limited due to it being an opening event) Overall, great experience... and we already have a meal planned for Tuesday, their first day open to the general public. Food: Wonderful. Just what the Highlands needed. Flavors are inventive, clean and fresh... its a rare occurrence to find great tex mex food that tastes fresh-made from start to finish. We sampled the shrimp ceviche with habanero pepper (perfect, tender, light and fresh... only complaint was it is served with crackers - would have likes chips or tortilla strips instead), bacon taquittos with spicy bean dip (absolutely, hands down, one of the tastiest things Ive had in a while... I mean, crispy fried, bacon, cheese, bean dip and green chilies... does it get any better?). Drink: We tried the frozen margarita and, our favorite, the frozen Mojitto. Both were very tasty (and very strong... one of each and we were plastered) Interior: The redesign of the restaurant was handled very well... respect for open space was paid quite well and the restaurant has much more of a large communal feel. Murals on the walls and light fixtures tie everything together just perfectly. Oh, another very cool aspect is the walk up window on the front patio, where you can place and pick up togo food orders, and chill on the patio with a margarita while you wait... very convenient.
(4)
Kelly H.

Love this place. For some reason I'm just really attracted to the atmospher I don't know what it is but i just really turns me on. It's amazing. I'm also in love with their salsa....i probably get up about 10 times to refill my lil cup with more salsa. I always order the red chili tacos......soo good. I ordered the green chili enchilada once but had them take it back because it looked like what the h***. So i stick with my red chili tacos and the chips and salsa.....so bomb.....so addicting. The only thing I don't like is their lack of side choices....or rather that they don't have any rice as an option...that really upsets me. I don't like any of their options! Wonderful place...i usually go around 8 and don't have a problem getting a table!
(4)
Joel C.

Came here with Lauren S, Leslie E, Chris W, Brent R and Brandon B this past Thursday and had a fantastic time! Everyone pretty much came here on opening night and when they told me they were going to go again, I just had to go! First off...I need to start this review with a WARNING. The fromo's or frozen margaritas are AWESOME...believe me, after 4 (or is it 5) pitchers; we were definitely having a good time in El Taco Land! The food was ok...maybe I was expecting a bit more with all the hype, but I thought the majority of the items that I ordered tasted a bit bland and definitely needed a trip to the salsa bar to give it a kick. I had the queso royale, tilapia taco, and the chile relleno taco. If you like corn, the side of roasted corn is amazing. For dessert, I went ahead and ordered the Mexican Coke Float...it was good but different since they use Coke from Mexico. The atmosphere is a lot of fun. They had a game the night we were there where they gave everyone a chip with a number on it and spun a wheel. If the wheel stopped on your number, you win prizes! Well our table won 1/2 off margaritas for 15 minutes, thus the multiple pitchers we were able to swim in! I would definitely go back and hopefully my update will add another star. Just a really cool place for the VA Highlands!
(3)
Brent R.

I'd heard so much hype about this place, that I think part of my opinion of it is based on the extremely high expectations I walked in the door with. We had extremely friendly, though sometimes slow, service. The food was good and tasted fresh, cooked to order. I especially enjoyed the grilled corn (with mayo), but really, what's not to love about corn and mayo? The tacos were good, but I found the two I had (Pork Carnitas and Rellenos) to be heavy on heat, but not taste. Several people in my group agreed, but others absolutely raved about the fried chicken taco and Mexican Pizza. We also shared several pitchers of frozen Mojitos (Fromojs or something like that). A word of caution, they're quite strong and we left fairly happy. I'd like to see them lower the amount of alcohol in the and then reduce the price some. One of those in a rocks glass was enough to make me a little tipsy. Overall, a nice choice if you're in the neighborhood or a local.
(4)
Vanessa T.

I would really have loved to sit in on the meeting in which they decided upon "The Original The Taco." It makes sense in no language. I have a soft spot for Frida so the mural was well received. The food was fair. The chips are good and the guacamole portion is nowhere near enough. The fried chicken taco can be described as Chick-Fil-A goes to Mexico. It is technically a taco but not really. Still, pretty tasty. The carnitas taco was fresh tasting and closer to authentic. I was not remotely impressed with the salsa bar setup. I am not a fan of buffet aspects of any kind. I don't care if there's a sneeze guard, it's just nasty. I can maybe see myself returning but it's more of a "Plan B" or "Plan C." I don't care if it was deemed overpriced and pretentious, I miss Sala. Queso de Cabra forever, ese.
(3)
Edward L.

Several of my running routes take me right in front of El Taco nearly every day and I finally stopped by Monday evening just as some late summer rain clouds were coming in. We got a table for two on the covered deck, a great place to be in the event of rain, and I had their original Margarita. Well done, I thought to myself. We moved on to some chips and Guacamole which came in a decent presentation and ample serving; and onto the Taco. I went to use the lav and discovered an interesting rojo interior, complete with lucha mural and taxied bull head; I though it was interesting to see the depth that Mexican culture had reached in American conscience, especially this far from the border. I had a Chile Steak taco and Joanna had a Fish Taco; El Taco had a salsa bar with cool flavors (keep that thing stocked, boys!) and we seasoned up while watching Futbol on the patio plasma. It was a cool quiet experience. It felt like a direct competitor to EAV's Holy Taco; from the menu to the atmosphere, with the primary difference being its location on the Va-Hi/Morningside border, thus making it seem more ball cap than biker. I'll be back. Seems like this would be a good place to bring the kids.
(4)
Michael M.

It's not a good sign when a restaurant's name is blatantly ironic. There's nothing "original" about "The Taco." (I'm not going to dignify the given name.) Well, except maybe using flour tortillas like a "short stack" of pancakes. The menu itself in monochromatic, uses small fonts, and doesn't highlight anything -- not even the tacos, which I assumed would be their bread-and-butter. That's why I ordered a grilled chicken and a fried chicken taco (of course, they were out of the fried chicken, but hey, it _was_ almost 10 pm). My small soft taco came out lukewarm and boring, which far outweighed the fact that it was fairly tasty. I finished it in 3-4 bites, mainly just to be polite. One of my friends also had one, and didn't even finish half. 98% of our "Mexican fries" went uneaten, and I don't think anyone in our group of 5 truly enjoyed their food (I was the only one that finished). The chips were by far the best part, cooked onsite and coated with lime salt. I didn't have a specialty drink, but who cares about those anyway? One possible highlight could be the Mexican Coke Float, so named because they use Coke imported from Mexico. (Quick Coke lesson: Coke bottled outside the U.S. uses sugar as the sweetener instead of corn syrup. That's the true original formula, but it costs more than using corn syrup.) I didn't get one, even though the waitress tried to upsell us on it pretty hard, even after requesting the check, by giving all 5 of us an individual dessert menu. Overall, this place is best for an after-work drink (no food but the chips) if you wanted a change of pace; or if you lived in the neighborhood, it might be ok for a nightcap. But hurry up. I give this place through February/March.
(2)
Layne B.

Not sure what the big deal about this place is. The mexican food is better... everywhere else in town. Even Caramba Cafe is better; and that is scary. I felt like I was at Don Pablo's or Chili's. The parents seem to like it alot. So, that should be a give away on what type of atmosphere it is. There were actually servers going around singing happy birthday. And, a raffle every hour for free stuff. Oh wait, maybe I went to Chuck E. Cheese by accident. They took the slick modern interior that was Sala, and junked it up. Too bad; I was really looking forward to going here. One positive note. The bartenders there are super nice. That is what gives this place 2 stars.
(2)
Tressi J.

Like the previous reviewer, I chuckled at the name. Then I chuckled more upon entering and noticing a huge mural with a sign depicting immigrants running for the border. As for the food, it was decent. It was very inexpensive, which was good. None of the tacos bowled me over, but I did like the salsa. I'd give it another try, but Taqueria Del Sol is my first choice for food like this.
(3)
louis n.

The Original El Taco was previously "Sala". The sleek white interior design has been downgraded to look like a run-down shack. Don't get me wrong, it takes a lot of hard work and money to make something look like a dump. The margaritas are watered down and the mojitos are far from "famous". The food, fried chicken taco and pork belly taco, make up for the lack of elegance and style highly missed when "Sala" closed their doors. Don't skimp on the Salsa Bar. Ignore the small ramekins beside the bar. Grab your side plate and load up!
(4)
Sarah B.

We went to The Original El Taco a few weeks ago and plan on going again tonight. I must admit we were a bit skeptical and were expecting it to be overpriced but decent. I really enjoyed the tacos and thought they were really tasty. The atmosphere was a ton of fun. Every table gets a handful of chips with numbers, then on the half hour or so, they turn a huge wheel at the bar. If your number is called you get a free treat like guacamole and chips or something. The price is very reasonable and the tacos are just as good as Taqueria without the wait. We still have a good time with the name of this restaurant, which is a bit pompous and silly The Original "The Taco"... just sounds like a spoof, which is maybe the point. But we'll be going back for seconds and thirds!
(4)
Rob P.

This may be my favorite restaurant in Atlanta. Tacos are perfect. The sloppy joe sandwich is ridic. The corn is heavenly. Never had a bad thing here. Can't get enough.
(5)
Marie P.

Alright, it's not that Yelp really needs another review of El Taco but I must say, I've been here several times already (it's really close to my house) but tonight I finally tried a fajita salad with the cumin and scallion chicken. Seriously, I can't remember the last time I have chicken this good. It was perfect. Very flavorful, especially the crispy skin and it was cooked flawlessly. It was amazing. I hate the salsa crudo because I think it tastes like grapes and, well, I hate grapes, so I wasn't too excited that my salad was garnished with it. But it was super cold and crunchy, the ranch dressing didn't drown the lettuce or the flavors, so I dig it. But that chicken, man, it totally made my night. And made up for my crappy day. So thanks, El Taco. :-D And due to my laziness, here's a list of stuff I like about this place: - Frozen mojito. Oh yes. It's amazing. - Refried black beans. I'm not usually a fan of refried beans, but these made me fall in love. - Lime salted chips. Especially the ones with LOTS of lime-salt. - Bacon Cheese Flautas. Spicy as hell but really yummy! Too bad you only get two...the bean dip that comes along is tasty with the chips as well - The pork belly taco & the tilapia taco. I fantasize about the pork belly sometimes. - Food comes out fast. This is especially handy since there are always families with their critters. Don't get me wrong, I like kids, but after teaching them all afternoon, I really just want to enjoy my dinner in relative peace. The servers are a hit-or-miss. The first time I went, our server was great, very attentive. But the last couple of times, they've been space cadets and just seem to disappear! Even when it's not particularly busy. Tonight especially, I was waiting at my table for several minutes before someone came by to even bring the water jug. Whatever...... Go on a week day and you won't have to wait. Also, this happened to me one night: the place was pretty slammed and the host said it would be a 30 minute wait, but dang it, I really wanted my pork belly, so I stuck it out. I grabbed a drink from the bar and not even 10 minutes later, I had a table. I believe they were telling customers the wait was that long to turn people away. It worked...several people did leave after hearing they'd have to wait that long. So, I can't guarantee it will always be like that, but that's what happened to me!
(4)
Adam R.

I came here for an event and was not really impressed. I am the last person qualified to answer questions about Mexican food, as I cannot stand it, but I do like the drinks. The two dollar beers were quite a deal. I had a few of those, but no food. I was just getting over a cold and did not want to make it worse. I have no complaints about the drinks though. It is pretty spacious inside but there is nothing authentic about this place. The wall paintings are a little over the top, but not too bad. It just seemed like a lot of new places that have popped up lately that just act like they are better than they are. I liked the wheel idea, but they only spun it twice while I was there. Given that it was a special event, I guess I expected them to do it more. Just seems like an average place to me. I may go back and try some more of the drinks but that is about it.
(2)
Advaitin s.

My first time there last weekend and I liked it a lot. The decor and the ambience was great, although the bar with stools on either side running through the middle of the dining room was a bit off-putting. We tried the chicken, and fish tacos and the mexican pizzas. The tacos were great, the chicken and fish full of flavor and succulent. The pizza...it was kind of blah...nothing remarkably mexican about it.
(4)
Roy K.

I am biased - I could eat taco's for every meal but don't do to the fear of public rejection. This place has been consistently good in my mind and fairly priced for an in town, bar-esque joint. Nice wait staff, bar, etc. Beer - not the best menu around but most people are drinking margaritas instead. Tacos - good choices and all the ones I have had are good. I like Fish Taco's alot and find that this one is good but very different than some of the others around town.
(5)
Joel D.

I guess its time to write my review now that I have sobered up from the pitchers of FroMos... We had a party of 5 on a Friday night, so I did call ahead seating - and still had to wait about an hour (arrived at 8). I guess that is a good thing for the restaurant because it was crowded and stayed crowded. The wait did give us time to put down the first pitcher. The Frozen Mojitos (FroMos) are delicious and really strong. I'm not sure how both f those statements can be true, but i assure you they are. And at $30/pitcher, they aren't cheap, but I would say they are worth it. Cheese Dip: Te cheese dip was good - but standard white cheese dip (not that there is anything wrong with that). I did feel like the portion was a bit small and didn't notice anything special about the "lime salted" chips. The salsa bar was a nice addition though Bacon & Cheese Flautas 2 flautas stuck in a cup of refried been dip. I liked these. Possibly a bit greasy, but I guess thats to be expected from a flauta that has cheese and bacon in it Fried Chicken Taco Delicious! Chicken was tender and tasty. The corn with lime mayo (which i was skeptical of - I HATE mayo) really made the dish I don't recall what the rest of my group had (damn you second pitcher of FroMos), but everyone thought it was really good. Most importantly, we all had a blast. One of our group won a free FroMo from the wheel. This has to be one of the most fun restaurants I have ever been to. I hope it remains as fun after the NEW RESTAURANT OMG!!! buzz dies down.
(4)
Jessica C.

Went here with a group and they were very accommodating. We were there mostly for margaritas not food but did get chips and gauc and a couple tacos. I'd say the tacos were disappointingly empty...like only 30% full. The guac portions are also pretty small. We were convinced to get the "skinny" margarita pitchers even though they're $8 and they were delicious. However, I'm pretty sure there was no or verrrry little alcohol in them. Our group downed 5 pitchers and we were all dead sober the whole night. That's about 25 drinks among 7 girls and, as I mentioned, we didn't have much dinner. The best part is that El Taco will split your checks even when you share items like pitchers and guac.
(3)
Scott A.

Visiting a restaurant during its first few days of operation is a two-edged sword. You risk having an experience marred by typical opening calamities, but you also get to be one the first to discover Atlanta's newest "find". My dining party and I got the best of both worlds. Not only did the service run as smoothly as if the restaurant had been in operation for years, but we felt fortunate to have found this gem before it becomes public knowledge. Word must already be out, however, because the place, as they say, was hopping! The decor surpassed anything that has been attempted in this cuisine realm. It is funky without being kitschy. It is whimsical without being overbearing. It is a comfortable setting creating a mood that enhances the experience rather than detracting from it. Go there. You will see what I mean. We ordered the Frozen Mojitos and, as other yelpers will concur, found them to be wickedly tasteful. The menu is manageable and can be navigated without requiring assistance from your server. I had to laugh at an earlier yelper who complained bitterly about the menu fonts and lack of highlights that he observed on opening night, and I would direct him to Waffle House, where he will find great delight at the colorful menus and pretty pictures. I ordered the Mexican Pizza and not only was it delicious, the portion was so large I had some to take home. My dining companion ordered the fried chicken taco and exclaimed he was in taco heaven. Of course we had to try to Mexican Coke Float just to see what a Coke imported INTO Atlanta would taste like. A new twist on an old favorite. I look forward to further explorations of the menu on future visits, of which there will be plenty. The Original El Taco will undoubtedly become a Virginia Highland institution; a favorite of both the local community as well as those who will come in from the suburbs to escape the cookie cutter Mexican fare that is seen everywhere.
(5)
Kristen G.

Great ambiance, friendly waiters, great with groups & the fried chicken tacos are delish! Also, lots of available parking for the Highlands. It's a great place for a laid back group meal. Definitely check out this VH gem.
(5)
Mike C.

Food pretty good, service bad. I know a lot of folks like this place, and we probably just hit a bad day, but it was a very bad day. There were only 5 or 6 tables of folks there but the 3 servers were having trouble keeping up with those. Our order was wrong. Twice. When they did bring my 10 year olds order it seemed to be intentially over salted. Like spite for have to remake an order 3 times? Not because we were picky, because they brought the entirely wrong item. Then they decided that I really didn't need 3 tacos, I only needed 2 (I guess I'm too fat). Anyway, we won't be back. Oh, yeah. It took 3 trips to get the bill straight. With so many great tacos in town, why bother with this joint.
(2)
Anna S.

Skip this place. There are tons of great restaurants in the area and also in Atlanta in general. In fairness to El Taco, I've only had the salad, but I was not a fan at all. At its best, it was bland; at its worst, it tasted funky (and not funky in a good way). I miss Sala!
(2)
J H.

We've been a couple of times now and like it a lot. It's almost as cheap as Taqueria Del Sol, but you actually get service, you don't have to stand in a horrible line, and the food is better. The guacamole dip is great. They actually added some seasoning to it and the chips, which a lot of places forget or don't care to do. As for the tacos, I'm a big fan of the grilled chicken with fried jalapenos, the pork carnitas, and especially the fried chicken tacos with corn relish. All delicious. The tacos are fairly dry (no loaded down with wet salsas, etc) but don't suffer a bit for it. I was not pleased with the chorizo taco. It tasted weird, like I was eating plantains in a tortilla or something. I like my chorizo moist and spicy, and this just wasn't. The apple pie dessert is well worth the splurge. Service was friendly. Overall this place is a huge improvement over the pretentious and overpriced Sala that was previously in the space. The only other negatives I could mention would be the iced tea, which tasted powdered. Otherwise I will happily pas the block long line of strollers at Taqueria and come here often.
(4)
Michael F.

The Good - fried fish taco! The Bad - you have a salsa bar but you have to buy the "house" salsa? Huh? The Cheesy - literally - green chili enchiladas had huge potential with just the right amount of cheese and meat... but they took a backseat to gratuitous amounts of sauce.
(3)
Nishant B.

had the pleasure of stumbling upon this highlands bar on the 26th. i am very pleased to report that in the spirit of 'taqueria del sol' and 'twisted taco' this place delivers both a great social atmosphere and well prepared food. unfortunately, we only had the tacos. however the pork was well marinated and cooked, chicken fine and our waitress nikki's (?) recommendation of the fried chicken taco was spot on. the queso was great, the salsa stations had a lot of very good choices and our meal was enjoyed by all. keep it up justin, definitely a mainstay on my atlanta rotation. good stuff!! open up a taco stand so we can swing by after drinking!!
(5)
Jakim H.

I went to El Taco a delicious pseudo Mexican joint in the Highlands. I got my usual deal, two Fried Chicken Tacos with Sweet Corn Salsa, a Red Chile Steak taco, and this time i ventured out and ordered Queso Royale. My accomplice ordered a Chorizo taco with radishes and something ( I've had it the texture is unpleasant to me), and a BBQ Pork Taco (same ingredients as Taqueria Del Sol and I can't pick a winner because I am biased to the TDS). The Deal Chicken Taco * Delicious * Chicken is tender a perfectly salted * Sweet corn salsa balances the dish out and the dish * Throw some Queso on that B**** Red Chile * Tender Steak * Great Flavor * Nothing Special though Queso Royale * Overpriced * supposed to come with Chorizo there were about 4 small pieces (Whackness) Drinks * Above Par drinks * Mojito is okay Pura Vida has a better one by far ( Pura Vida uses limes El Taco Lime Juice (lame) * One beer on Draft but that's okay its Dos Equis * House Margarita is okay (Boneyard Cantina's is better but not worht the drive). My favorite Margarita - 1800 Resperado, Cointreau, and any home made sour mix non of that bottle premade crap. Enjoy the highlands a great place to kick it.
(3)
Josh B.

I'd give this place 1.5 stars if it were an option. This place is NOT terrible though. The service was good and the food didn't make me sick. My main beef: the quality of the food does not stand up to the price. I can get a much better taco at Taqueria Del Sol for nearly half the price. I'm probably capable of making everything I had better at my own home. To speak of the food more specifically, everything seemed a little off-balance. The nachos were a little over-salted. The guacamole was grocery-store fare even though it ran around $6. The fried chicken tacos were far too flavorful but the pork tacos needed some dipping sauce. It's just not working as far as food quality goes. Chop the price of everything in half, and I might give this place 3 stars.
(2)
MARK T.

Little foods in the foods are freshed. Tacos is not great. But tacos is good still. Great restaurant for having your some childrens to eat with.
(3)
Nicole V.

Usually always get an order to-go and Monday was no different, but Brandon got me in the door with a Niki "RITA" in hand. 2 drinks later I'm an FGR card member and glowing with delight . Yummy!!! :D
(4)
Michael B.

Expect to wait a LONG time if you have more than four people on a Friday or Saturday night. We waited for about an hour and a half on a Friday night when we had six people. You can grab a drink at the bar while you wait, but be careful. Expect to pay FORTY-TWO DOLLARS for a pitcher of margarita. It was good, but not $42 good. The bartender (I believe his name was Brandon) was great. There were a ton of people, but it never took long to get a drink and he was very friendly. After being seated, a quick look at the menu and you'll realize that the food is priced pretty reasonably. The fried fish and fried chicken tacos were my favorite. The guacamole dip was excellent and, they have some of the best chips I've ever had at a restaurant. They are seasoned with some kind of lime salt or something. Our server, Tisa, was very helpful and cool. She kept us happy and needing nothing. I'll be back to this place, but I'll call ahead first and steer clear of the margarita pitcher. Cheers.
(3)
TJ M.

It's probably more like 3.5 stars than 4, but I've given other taco places around here the same sort of grade. In fact, I'd give this place a tie with Raging Burrito. Been here twice now. I'm a fan of their tacos. I think I like the red chili steak taco the most. I'm also a fan of their green chili chicken enchiladas. Not typical enchiladas like I'll get at most places. The green chili is on the thick side and they put corn inside the enchilada. What can I say? It works. The margaritas are good. Nothing particularly special about them, but worth ordering if you're in the mood. Pretty good guacamole and chips. They add some sort of seasoning to the chips, which was nice. They spin a wheel of fortune type of thing at the top of every hour. Kind of fun if a little on the cheezy side. You'll have to find parking on the street, most likely. It's usually not too hard, and it's free. One word of caution: One of my friends who prefers Chilis as their "Mexican" food of choice, didn't care for this place. I blame her palate, lol! My other friends enjoyed it, however. Oh and one of my friends ordered the octopus and didn't care for it.
(4)
tami l.

So the girls and i decided to have a girls' night dinner here. a wednesday night. you can only make reservations 30 minutes prior to arrival. i recall being seated no more than 5-10 minutes after reservation time. our server, mike, was awesome! i ordered/tasted: 1. chips & salsa: just okay. salsa sweet and didn't taste super-fresh to me. 2. chips & queso: good. not my favorite. but me likey. hard to mess up hot cheese. 3. fried chicken taco: also has corn and sauce in the mix. goooooooood. 4. steak taco: a bit salty. served with li'l bits of fried onion in the mix. good. 5. fish taco: no longer tilapia. another fish. served with sprouts in the mix. good. 6. refried beans: just ok. 7. fried apple pie!!!!!! that's what brought my rating over to the next star! it's a little thing. but yuuuuuuuummy! more like an apple turnover served with a side of cinnamon ice cream. it was deeee-lish! they accidentally gave me the fish taco instead of the chicken. i told mike and told him not to worry about it. i'd eat the fish taco just happily. well, he came back a few minutes later with my chicken and apologized again. it was good. i liked it. it won't be my first pick next time, but i'll eat there again one day. overall, i'd rather eat at taqueria del sol!
(3)
kip s.

I had the green chili chicken enchiladas. The green chili sauce was tasteless. The chicken was really good quality, but the creamy corn stuffing was kind of bland. the dish had a nice presentation and was served nice and hot. I'm not sure why they did not serve chip and salsa. I guess you have to order it. My son had the cheese and bean quesadillas. I had a bite and they were good. We shared his chips and I went to the salsa bar. The green chili sauce was bland and the tomato roma fresco sauce was bland. I've eaten here about six times. Every visit I've found the food to be very fresh, but missing flavor. Chips on my son's platter were of good quality (home made). Service was awesome and efficient. the atmosphere is really fun and comfortable. Nice to be able to park for fee and not valet or pay for parking.
(2)
Lisa A.

** UPDATE 1/12/09** I have traded emails with a very nice representative of the Fifth Group. While this does not change my rating, it is nice to know they listen to customer feedback! I will revisit El Taco at some point, as I hope that I was just there on a "Off Night." We went to The Original El Taco the day after Christmas. We decided at the last minute, so we did not have a reservation. When we arrived, the place had a lot of open tables, but the hostess told us that they were all reserved, so we should wait at the bar. Bartender was nice enough, but when we paid she put some plastic chips next to our change. Not knowing what they were, we just left them at the bar next to our change. Mind you we were standing right there. A few minutes later they spin this wheel. Low and behold, our number comes up and the guy sitting at the bar grabs the chip and says he won. Bartender looked at him kinda funny, but said nothing to us or him. It would have been nice if someone had explained the whole wheel thing. We get seated and start to look at the menu. Everything sounds pretty good and since there were three of us, we tried a few different dishes. When the waitress comes to take out order, she was not friendly at all. Nor did she take time to explain the menu. We placed our order and she started to take the menu when my husband said he would like to hang on to it, as he and his friend were drinking tequila. She said fine and walked away. A few minutes later, the hostess walked by and grabbed the menu from under my husbands elbow. He asked her what the deal was and she said they needed the menu. Fine, we did not order any more tequila! Our food came and there were some hits and misses. I loved my green chicken enchiladas and our friend liked his, too. My husband ordered three tacos and they were OK at best. The thing that took The Original Taco down a few notches was the fact that when my husband went to the bathroom, he noticed the salsa bar, which the waitress never told us about, even though we ordered chips and salsa! I also did not care for the art work, if you can call it that? Being a SoCal native, I found the yellow family crossing sign a bit offensive. I understand that most people in Atlanta have never scene that sigh along the 5 freeway, but I have.
(1)
William W.

The food is consistent, but nothing that will blow your mind. The good: cheese dip, fried chicken tacos, good waitstaff The bad: vegetarian tacos, margaritas, interminable wait for a table
(3)
Stephie Z.

Let me preface by saying I did attend on their 25% off Employee Discount Promotional Night. That being said I have to drop these guys at least 2 stars, I would prefer to do more but I can't even tell if the food I had before was as good or better because they ran out. WTF!!! I am so sick of these restaurants that are generally busy anyways giving discounts and then running out of half their food items. You are promoting this, why the F wouldn't you order enough food. It really irks me. Another minus for the original the taco is that I called in my name for the list, was quoted a wait of 70 minutes, got there after 45 minutes to check in and then waited another 55 minutes to be seated. I realize they were busy but I was a hostess back in my college days, if you under-quote and the person comes up asking a couple of times, you bump a drunker party down. Place really pissed me off last night is all I can say. Oh and the mole taco I had was too cloyingly sweet and the fried chicken taco was way too salty. Next time I come, y'all better have those pizzas!
(2)
Walter R.

In a nutshell, I was not impressed with The Original El Taco. I had back to back taco's completely disintegrate after one or two bites from being waterlogged. The salsa station seemed like a throwback to the Wendy's buffet bar - only much smaller. And the spinning raffle wheel announcements did nothing for me, of course, if I would have won something, I'd be singing a different tune. I can totally see this as a kid friendly place where parents can intoxicate themselves while the children play with their food. Escapism would work well here since there's no shortage of alcoholic options. A robust list of alcohol was highlighted by my waitress - I appreciated her attention to detail.
(2)
Joye L.

Someone seriously gave this restaurant one star because it isn't open for lunch? That's ridiculous! As a true life lover of mexican food I can honestly say this is one of the absolute BEST MEXICAN restaurant around! As for everyone who is comparing this restaurant to Tequieria del Sol, it is less than 5 minutes from where I live and I pass by there on a regular basis to get El Taco. Tequiera is a good cheap mexican restaurant but when it come to taste and innovation, it is light years behind the corn w/ the lime and mayo. You don't even want me to start talking about the queso royale with sauteed onions and peppers or the mexican pizza which is more like heaven on a crispy crust! More salad than pizza, it's light enough not to make you feel heavy but more than enough food to satisfy any appetite. This place is a jewel and I only wish it were closer to where I live.
(5)
Jeff P.

Very attentive wait staff. Food just ok we had margaritas which were very good served it a tiny glasses. Probably best to go on a night where they have a special as otherwise pricing is high for what you get.
(3)
Yvette J.

I'm a sucker for any place that offers New Mexico (my home state) chile on their menu and adult beverages centered around tequila. Off to El Taco we go... It was Sunday, it was around 6:15 pm and the place already had a 10-15 min wait. Since, we didn't have our 2 yr old with us we were coming in at the tail end of the DWK (dining with kids) crowd but just ahead of the adults only crowd. We needed to be somewhere else by 7:30 so I perused the menu before we were seated. There was a nice variety but I zeroed in on the taco offerings. Since this was my first visit, I went with the 'ol favorites - 1 fish and 1 fried chicken taco. I was admiring the side choices - refried black beans with creme and mexican corn - but I had had a big lunch and didn't want to be a total gluton. I tried to compare the tacos to Taqueria Del Sol but you really can't. The corn in the fried chicken taco added just a hint of sweetness. I was not expecting it but enjoyed it. The breading was thin and not overpowering. Quite enjoyable. The Tilapia was tasty but just as different as the fish taco at TDS. I was not loving the slice of avocado and would prefer a avocado-sour cream-light jalapeno type sauce instead. I could not pass up the frozen mojito but felt it was a little too minty. I still slurped every last drop though and was happy that there was no skimp on the rum. Our service was friendly but I couldn't tell if they were just super busy and feeling frazzled or just lacking attentive and relaxed service that I enjoy. No biggie. I'll be back and next time we'll bring our 2 year old - beware!
(3)
Steakhead ..

There is a new Mexican place in the location previously occupied by Sala in the Highlands/Morningside area called The Original El Taco, which I guess translates to The Original The Taco. I am not aware of any new El Taco restaurants so I am not too sure what "The Original" refers to. This is the latest Fifth Group concept, and at first I was scared (actually, I was petrified), that this would follow the same mistakes as The Original The Sala, which meant overdone and overpriced Mexican. But fear not, this is not the case with El Taco. When you first walk into the restaurant, you realize right away this is supposed to be a casual neighborhood place. Cool, fun colors, star chandeliers, and my favorite- a prize wheel, which among other things, awards free pitchers of margaritas for 15 minutes if it lands on that space and you hold the winning number. Gambling, tequila and tacos- you know this is a Steakhead kind of place! The menu is pretty standard for the modern taqueria these days. The queso royale includes japapenos, and chunks of chorizo sausage. Other items include fajitas, mexican pizza, enchiladas, etc. But given the name, I went for the tacos. There are 8different tacos on the regular menu, including the fried tilapia (don't be scared off by the salsa habenero, it is not spicy at all), fried chicken, mexican chorizo and the pork carnitas tacos. But the best taco I had this night was the Red Chili Steak taco (of course, you say). The chili rubbed steak was tender and extremely flavorful. There is a salsa bar towards the back which has some decent concoctions, though nothing overly spicy if you are into that sort of thing. The great thing about the taco menu is that they all are about $3 each. So with the change you save on food, you can direct that toward the drink menus. Speaking of which, the margarita list is impressive and I've heard good things about the frozen mojito (though I will not admit to having one of those). I think El Taco should do very well. They offer decent food, at a good price, in a fun atmosphere. Its both kid-friendly and singles-friendly. The front porch will be a popular spot in the Spring and Summer months. They do need to run that prize wheel a little more often- they didn't spin it once when I was there. I want to be like that guy in the KENO commercial when my number hits winning free pitchers of margaritas for all my friends!
(4)
Kenny D.

Great food, great service, I almost don't wanna tell ya about this little gem! We went for dinner Saturday night at 6:30 and got right in, but when we left, there was a line. We had steak tacos and roasted chicken tacos, which were outstanding. The salsa is the best in town (except for Nuevo Laredo, which has nasty service), but too bad you have to pay for it and chips. Good house 'rita, and I'm picky. Way better than your regular cheap Mexican food and not that much more expensive. And if you wanna die and go to heaven, order the fried apple pie (came hot and fresh) with cinnamon ice cream.
(5)
Foodie Buddha F.

I was flying solo last Thursday, so I decided to drop in at the new "The Original El Taco" (yeah - that makes sense). The name freakin' bothers me. Granted, it's just your basic Spanglish bastardization - but can't we do better than "The Original The Taco"??? Oh well - it doesn't factor in the score. Fifth group did a nice job of renovating the space. The restaurant is divided into an enclosed patio and a main dining room. It's very open and spacious. Apparently, some SCAD students painted the mural in the main room -very cool. They have a "take out" window which sounds like a great idea - only it's basically just a window cut into the wall on the side of the bar. You are better off taking 3 steps around the corner. Then at least you're at the bar. The "wheel of noise" is gimmicky and annoying. It's great for the kids early in the evening; after they split, it becomes stupid. By 8 o'clock, the kids had pretty much vanished. They were supplanted by a mix of middle age, under sexed couples, and a handful of late twenty-somethings who were trying to "be seen." I like the idea of giving away free food - but did anyone care for that stupid horn every 45 minutes? By the end, it was crowded enough to be called busy, but not to the point where you were unable to move. I walked in at 6:30 and found a good number of families eating. I quickly turned and found a spot at the bar where I was greeted by Mr. Happy, the kind of guy you just know has some really twisted secret. Be careful, he will try to act like he's your best friend. He asked if I had been in before - I lied and said yes. More often than not, this will get them off your back fast. Well, not this time! He responded "I knew you looked familiar!" Yikes on so many levels. He asked what I wanted to drink. I replied: "A margarita frida on the rocks with salt!" "But of course!" and then dove into a five minute dissertation as to why it was a fabulous choice. When he was done, he abruptly stopped, spun, and walked away. It would have been nice if he notified the bartenders of my order. Okay, onto the important stuff. The bartender who covered my area was very nice (I think her name was Kim but don't hold me to that). Regardless, she didn't have a lot of work to do. They margaritas were premixed and a disappointment. I can understand them using the mix machines; but, I expected something more for my "specialty" margarita. They were syrupy as hell and expensive. Oh well, at least they come in tall glasses and were strong. Onto the food - blah! It's a nice try, but also over priced and under delivered. They use quality product - but overall - the execution was pretty off. The tacos are all about $1.00 to pricey. I have no idea why they didn't just set a flat rate for the tacos. They do use homemade tortillas, and those were very tasty; however, every single taco arrived lukewarm. A lot of people have talked about the salsa bar that they have - this is a total misnomer. There are a handful of salsa's there (I think two or three), but most of it were other types of sauces and a variety of vegetables. What is most disappointing about the salsa bar is that nothing on it is unique. Every single item is used in at least one of their tacos. Grrr! What's the point? Okay so here's what I had: The fried chicken taco had sweet undertones due to the Mexican corn; but, I ordered two of these and both times - the chicken was soggy! What a bummer. The lime mayo was a nice touch and not over powering, but these pale in comparison to the fried chicken at Taqueria. The crispy pork belly was an expected surprise. By that I mean the chef is known for his love of pork belly, but it is an unusual choice nonetheless. The flavors have the potential to turn this into a star. Unfortunately, the ingredients were not well proportioned and it tasted just like it looked - messy. The cabbage could have been fresher and it needed more mint and chilies. The chipotle mayo did not resemble chipotle anything. I'd just call it mayo. The chorizo in the chorizo taco was over cooked. The peppers and onions were flavorful - but how hard is it to screw that up? The grilled chicken taco was the biggest failure. It was advertised as grilled thighs, creamy chipotle mole, grilled sweet onion, and pickled Serrano peppers. Sounds good - but I'm almost positive the chicken was boiled and not grilled. To boot, they tasted like "barbeque chicken tacos" - tell me where it says "barbeque sauce" on the menu? Major bomb there! Bottom line - they are trying too hard to make this an experience and not hard enough to deliver top notch food. The gimmicky salsa bar, wheel of noise, and take out window are all proof of that. It's just another "if you are in the 'hood" sort of spot. If you have any inclination to drive, don't go her. You'll be much better served at TDS on Cheshire or any number of spots on Buford. Not a place I would ever crave!
(3)
Genevieve B.

Husband and I have been going about once every 10 days. Loving it! Nice range of tastes, especially the salsas. worth going for fun and casual fare.
(4)
Frank L.

Parking is entertaining. I drive past this place every morning on my commute and had a chance to go a few weeks back for a meet up - I forget either twitter or yelp - anyway. The place isn't as big as I thought it would be, actually its a lot smaller than I expected. It was crowded, so space was at a premium, especially with the large group that was there. All things considered, service was good and the drinks were good, but the food was ok. I wasn't blown away by it, but mexican food in general doesn't blow me away and if it does "blow me away" its usually not a good thing.
(3)
Scott J.

Excellent salsa, queso and tacos. The steak taco was especially good. The lime salted chips were also great. Good spot.
(4)
Jennifer K.

Went on Friday night and there was an hour wait, but we decided to wait it out - we'd heard it was good. I really wanted to like this place, especially since Sala was such a disappointment. After an hour wait, we were seated at probably the worst table in the restaurant, a couple feet from the door which didn't get the experience off to a great start. And because we were practically sitting outside, I think the server forgot about us a few times. And the food? We had chips, salsa, fajitas and tacos ok, but nothing to write home about. Certainly not worth an hour wait. The margaritas were OK, but again, nothing special. I think I'll stick with Pozole right down the street for my margarita fix.
(2)
Robin G.

Great Mexican! The kids menu was different and great. My kids loved the food, they use a wonderful cheese. The atmosphere is great, they have a nice patio. And I loved the chicken enchiladas with tometillo sauce. It was a great meal, well priced and in a great location.
(5)
Keith P.

Atmosphere great. Food is terrible. Way below par for VaHi. I've had way better food elsewhere.
(2)
Katherine D.

I really enjoyed El Taco. I must confess, the first time I visited was at the Top 25 Chefs party, so the $1 tacos and $2 beer may be affecting my judgment. Still, I thought both the pork belly and fried chicken tacos were outstanding. The rellenos taco wasn't so hot. However, the grilled corn-mayo (it's a side dish and also comes on the fried chicken taco) thing is truly exceptional. Though the menu has a great many more delicious sounding items (not sure about the pizza?), the tacos are all I can vouch for. The margaritas are just OK, but for the price and size, they're a good deal. I'll definitely visit El Taco again.
(4)
W T.

Me and a couple of friends had a long day at work and decided to go out for margaritas. I mentioned that the Original El Taco had pretty good reviews and we need to check it out. El Taco opened up a few months ago. I have been so excited about going, but I just wanted to wait awhile before going. I am the person that waits awhile after the new places open, so the place can "get the bugs out" before I came in for the first time :-) ....Boy was this place FANTASTIC! The staff is SO friendly. It was only 3 tables that were filled when we got there at 630pm, but by the time we got our first round of drinks, the place was jammed packed! People everywhere waiting to get a table. This is pretty cool. You would think that this place has been here for decades. lol. Everything that me and my friends ordered was tasty....from the Fro'mo's, to the chicken and steak fajitas, to the fried chicken tacos. The Queso Blanco was SO good. A little spicy at first, but we got used to the spiciness after awhile. Don't change a think about the recipes. I have to say that this place will be my new place for margaritas after work for sure. It is a whole lot better than El Azteca!!! yay! I can't wait to take my other friends there. I am such a big Fifth Group fan! This place rocks!!!
(5)
John R.

This is a local favorite of ours in the Highlands area. Food ranges from OK to Great but atmosphere and location makes up for any deficiencies with the food. Key lime margaritas are really great but pricey. Service is always fantastic.
(4)
Diane B.

Love this place!
(5)
Jaxxie B.

Good food! Fun place. And by God, get yourself a frozen mojito, will ya?!
(3)
Stanton A.

Another great place to visit if you are in the Highlands. The atmosphere is very fun and the margaritas are tasty. When you get to your table, your server will give you a wooden chip with a number on it. Every hour on the hour, a giant party wheel is spun, and if it lands on your number, you win a prize. You can win anything from and El Taco t-shirt to a free shot of tequila. The food here is slightly above average. There is a self-serve salsa bar which is very good. I had the fajitas last time and they were delicious. Someone at the table also ordered a Mexican pizza, which turned out to be below average. The best thing on the menu, in my opinion, is the fried chicken taco. It comes with their special lime mayo corn, which is probably the best thing on the menu. I would also recommend getting it as a side. Overall, the experience is fun and vibrant. There is plenty of free parking in the back. However, before 9 o'clock there are lots of kids in the restaurant. So if you like to be loud and let the occasional obscenity fly, you may want to arrive a little later. This is definitely a place you should try at least once.
(4)
Jeff D.

Good food, but it's practically a daycare if you go before 8:00. There literally were two tables without two kids or less. All well and good, but when we go out to eat we want to eat, not plug our ears from the screaming.
(3)
Thomas T.

I had purchased a coupon directly from 5th Group a while back and decided to use it yesterday for lunch. It was a $10 for $20 coupon so we ordered some extras as I do on these things and the bill came to about $30. When I presented the coupon I was told it was expired which surprised me as I had purchased it not long ago. It was showing an expiration date of October and was actually a couple of weeks expired. If this were a coupon I clipped somewhere it would not have been so bad but when the manager, nice as he was about it, refused the coupon that I had actually bought from the company for $10 I got to thinking about the mediocre lunch I just had for $40 when I include the coupon price. I also thought about how I as a business retailer would handle a situation like this. If you make an offer to your prospective customer and that customer invests in you before the service is rendered and then make no offer to do anything to compensate I think that is bad business. They got my $10 but it will stop there as their offer to save $10 got me in the door but then alienated me. I presented this idea to the manager and he said he did not have a button on the computer to remedy the situation. Sounds like the management here is rather helpless to deal with these type situations. Any offer would have been enough to satisfy me but he stuck to his guns. I spend about $500 a year in the 5th Group resturants and I like supporting my neighborhood businesses but this is bad business and I choose to go elsewhere in the future. In addition the food was bad and haunted us all day so I guess my closing comment will come as no surprise to any reader. I'll not be back to a 5th Group Restaurant. PS The Carnitas are better at Chipolte! Allot Better.
(1)
Tyler D.

This place is always outstanding...I love the "pizzas" and the tacos are great. Always get the grilled corn side. The drinks are also strong and amazing, and let's not forget the wheel that they spin hourly. Not to miss!!
(5)
Shaun K.

It's not that the Original El Taco is bad. It's not. It's decent. If I still lived in VaHi, I might put it in the rotation. But with Prickly Pear Taqueria now within walking distance from me and Bone Garden an equidistant drive, I don't know that I'll be back much. It's a fun place and I enjoyed sitting out on the porch with friends on a Saturday night having some tacos and margaritas, but the food was kind of hit or miss. Guacamole was fine, but it's guacamole. Red Chile Steak tacos were nothing special. The chorizo tacos were a bit overwhelmed by some of the spiciest chorizo I've had (and I looove me some chorizo). The fried chicken tacos with corn, on the other hand were pretty stellar (as was the taste of the mayonnaise corn side dish I had.) Fried apple pie with cinnamon dulce de leche ice was stronger on the ice cream side than the pie side. The biggest winner of the evening was the pitcher of Key West Margaritas (highly recommended) which were fantastic. Bottom line: if you're in the neighborhood and in the mood for some tacos and margaritas, check it out; if you're in search of a really great taqueria, you can definitely do better.
(3)
Brittany H.

After spending about an hour trying to decide where I wanted to go to dinner last night, I finally decided on The Original El Taco. Right before my friend picked me up, I gave them a call to ask them to hold us a table, as instructed on the website. When we arrived, the place was packed. We checked in with the hostess, but we were still going to have to wait. So we went to grab a drink at the bar, and ordered sangria for me, a margarita for him, and two tequila shots. (Tuesdays are like my weekend, because I usually work when everyone else is having fun.) The bartender was super nice (Brandon, I believe), so we decided just to sit at the bar for dinner. We started off with queso dip, then ordered the pork carnitas taco, the pork belly taco, the red chili steak taco, and the chicken fajita salad. (All to share, as usual.) The queso dip was good, if not a little too runny. The chips were great, I loved the flavor of the salt. The tacos were all good, though the steak tasted like it was marinated in Dale's. (Not that that is a bad thing, but I could do it at home.) The fajita salad was very disappointing. When I think of a fajita salad, I expect the chicken to be warm. It was not. There was no cheese, no tortilla, nothing. (I know it didn't say on the menu there would be those things, but honestly. It was just a salad. Why even include the word fajita?...hmm, I guess that bothered me more than I thought. I suppose when you are in a sangria haze everything is a little happier.) We stuck around for a few more drinks, and my friend even won a shot of tequila on the wheel....of....tacos! It was a fun night, but will we be back? I am not sure. Our bill was eighty dollars, so it was a hundred dollar dinner. (3 sangria, 2 margaritas, 1 beer, 2 shots, chips and dip, 3 tacos, and a salad) Perhaps now that I have the menu narrowed down, I will be able to just pop in for a few tacos and not drop so much hard earned money.
(3)
Shannon L.

Nothing particularly new or exciting about this place. Shared some chips and guacamole and had a couple tacos. Food was decent and frozen mojitos were good (although they did not live up to the raves). The only reason I'm even writing a review is to forewarn future customers about the side dish with corn. I absolutely love elote and I'm always excited when I see it or some variation on a menu (which doesn't happen too often in Atlanta). This version was ok-tasting, but it had an inescapable aftertaste of...hot dogs. Yes, hot dogs. Not a good meat aftertaste like bacon or ham, but hot dogs. It was truly bizarre. I still finished the dish, but I don't think I would order it again. Hopefully it was a one-time thing and you future elote partakers will enjoy the dish. But beware!
(3)
Kathleen H.

It's in my neighborhood and prices are right for the food! and the food is pretty good!
(4)
Kelly G.

I love EL Taco. Besides, Tin Lizzy's, it's my favorite place for Tex Mex in Atlanta. Good tacos, drinks, service, and spin the wheel! Don't like that you have to buy your chips, but otherwise, it's great!
(5)
Jeff S.

First, I love the food. It's a step above Tacqueria Del Sol, but similar fare. The fried chicken and pancetta tacos are a little bit of heaven. Perfectly done, they have nicely balanced textures and flavors with enough heat to be interesting. The margaritas are among the better you can get in Atlanta, and the sides aren't just inert filler, but rewarding themselves. Start with the grilled corn with lime mayo and branch out. I prefer the tacos to the pizzas--they do a better job with them--and I'd start there on your first visit before you branch out. It's among my favorite Baja Mex restaurants ever. The price you pay for inexpensive, great food is a crowd. Even on a week night it fills up quickly and can make parking an adventure. A margarita at the bar can make any wait tolerable, though, and the food is worth it.
(4)
Yelp R.

Great food service drinks and atmosphere
(5)
K M.

The best thing that we had was the guacamole; it was outstanding. Everything else that we ate was just okay. We had tacos and chicken fajitas. Nothing really blew me away. It was a Friday night, very crowded. There were lots of kids there, even though it was around 9pm. The tables were very close together and it was hard to navigate through the dining room to the bathrooms (especially since I was wearing heels-- the floor is so slippery!). The bartenders were very friendly to us, even though they were totally slammed. I probably won't make a point to go back there for food unless someone really wants to try it out! I'd go back for a drink, though.
(3)
Shelly J.

We got six varieties of tacos here and I was just not impressed. I just love Taqueria del Sol and I thought this was just an expensive version of it with less flavor. I wouldn't say it was terrible by any means, but I was just expecting more flavor. I would still go back but I would go to Taqueria del Sol over that any day.
(2)
Thomas W.

Great food for what you pay.
(5)
Liam P.

had dinner sunday. good meal, decent price. the beef skewers are SKIMPY for $5 - dont nother, just get two steak tacos for a tad more $. steak fajitas were great - they started giving you 4 tortillas per order PLUS they will give you corn tortillas if you request. we frequent this spot (1-2x a month) with the kids and it has been consistently good.
(3)
Monika G.

As a Mexican living in Atlanta for years I am always on the search of anything with the name taco in it. So, how could I not try The Original El Taco? plus I work less than 5 minutes away so it is a great stop for after work dinner. Me and husband were soooo disappointed. I have to admit that we didn't do any alcohol on purpose so we ordered cokes that were forgotten by the waiter so we had to remind him after couple of minutes waiting. They do not serve chips and salsa unless you order them and if you do, DO NOT expect any good quality chips, they serve the same quality chips that you get for free in any other Mexican restaurant (the cheapest quality, are you kidding me? is like eating cardboard), well, we order the guacamole and it was so small that it took us no more than 5 dips to end it and it was also overpriced ($5.95) like the rest of the small menu that they have. We ordered the fish, pork belly, chorizo and poblano tacos, none of them impressed us at all. I can honestly say Taqueria del Sol or Holy Taco are waaaaay much better and their price is more decent. This place has a nice atmosphere and the location is unbeatable. So, if you are not looking for great food and are willing to pay overpriced small tacos you won't be disappointed.
(2)
Parm A.

Fantastic food. Always good to very good wait service. Managerial service has been mediocre at best (borderline rude some times). We've been 8 times and we're likely going to wait awhile before returning. I don't get the sense that they value the family clientele.
(3)
Jason P.

Expect to wait; but it's worth it! The pork belly tacos are my favorite. They give away free stuff too! Go for Tacos, not Mexican.
(4)

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Address : 1186 N. Highland Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA, 30306
Phone (404) 873-4656
Website https://eltaco-atlanta.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Mexican Cuisine

If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.

Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.

Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.

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The Original El Taco

1186 N. Highland Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA, 30306

The Original El Taco Menu

Tastes

House Specialties

Tacos

Sizzling Fajitas

Enchiladas

Mexican Pizza

Soups & Salads

Sides

Add Ons

Entrees

Chips 'n' Dip

Sala Bar

Grande House Salad

Tacos

Sides

Enchiladas

Fajitas

SOUP & SALAD

QUESADILLAS

COMBOS

THE TACO TRUCK

SPECIALTIES

DESSERT

KIDS

COCKTAILS

CLASSIC TASTES

HOUSE SPECIALTIES

SIZZLING FAJITAS

SOUP & SALAD

TACOS

ADD ONS

DESSERTS

Healthy Meal suggestions for The Original El Taco

Tastes

House Specialties

Tacos

Sizzling Fajitas

Enchiladas

Mexican Pizza

Soups & Salads

Sides

Add Ons

Entrees

Chips 'n' Dip

Sala Bar

Grande House Salad

Tacos

Sides

Enchiladas

Fajitas

SOUP & SALAD

QUESADILLAS

COMBOS

THE TACO TRUCK

SPECIALTIES

DESSERT

KIDS

COCKTAILS

CLASSIC TASTES

HOUSE SPECIALTIES

SIZZLING FAJITAS

SOUP & SALAD

TACOS

ADD ONS

DESSERTS

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