Taqueria El Antojo
11916 Pacific Hwy S,Ste A, Lakewood, WA, 98499
Taqueria El Antojo Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Lakewood for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lakewood for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lakewood for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
11916 Pacific Hwy S,Ste A
Lakewood, WA, 98499 - Phone (253) 983-1550
- Website https://taqueriaelantojo.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :9:00 am - 11:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
Categories
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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Peggy R.
This is my favorite Taqueria. It's right off the freeway, so really easy to get takeout on the way home. As I had mentioned before, I'm a huge sopes/sopitas fan. This place has them! However, I found something even better. Their gorditas. I had never had a gordita before (I don't think that taco bell counts - and they have NOTHING in common with the gorditas at Antojo). Gorditas come two for about $4. And it's enough for me. The ingredients to the dish is the same as what goes on a sope/sopita. However, whereas I tend to find the masa "boats" on the sopes too thick, the gordita is like a "stuffed sope/sopita". It's corn masa, fried, then cut in half - like how you would make a sandwich. But the very end is still connected - so if you were daring, you could make an attempt to pick it up. However, I really don't recommend it. Also, on weekdays, they have $0.50 tacos from 1pm to 5pm. You just can't beat that price. The regular price for the 5 taco plate (also comes with drink) is just over $7. For $7 during $0.50 taco time... That would be 14 tacos! I also really like their lengua, which is listed as cebeza (totally different - cebeza means "head"). Lengua is tongue. Usually in California, both is listed. Maybe listing "head" wouldn't make it as popular? I have no idea. But birria, as far as I was told at another Mexican place (but this was in Reno) is goat. And they list that they have that too, however they say that it's shredded beef. I asked about this, and like I suspected, there isn't much of a market for goat around here. Everything I've had so far has been excellent, except for the sope/sopita and the torta (was in like a hamburger type bun). They have a Pollo Asado plate that reminds me of El Pollo Loco, which I grew up eating and absolutely love - but they don't have any here in Washington. So I was excited that at Antojo's they had it. They also have the whole fried fish, I forgot the Mexican name...something Pescado. I'm excited to try that next. While normally, I'd give Antojo's only four stars because of the sope/sopitas and the bun on the torta. But they've turned me on to a new favorite - the gorditas. So because I now am no longer on the hunt for sopes...five stars it is. The place is right of the Bridgeport exit - you can see it immediately as you get off the freeway if you're heading towards the Lakewood Towne Center. It's inexpensive, damn good, give it a try if you are passing by. I passed it by so many times, then regretted not stopping. Then I finally just made a special trip just to go, and boy, am I happy about my decision.
(5)Kimberly M.
Went here on a lunch date with a pilot I know from McChord AFB. Its close and its simple. Its good and its cheap.. I had the pollo tacos.. a bit of street taco meats Salvadorian taco. He had a burrito that was larger than my forearm. Hes a big guy and he was full. Of course, go here knowing that if your a military peep, you may know the entire small restaurant of fellow military peeps. Not a bad thing if you are me.. I loved this place. $13 for two meals, sides and drinks. Bam! Into the wild blue yonder..
(5)Evan A.
Good food. Good price.
(4)Phill Y.
Atmosphere 4 Service 4 Food 5 Stumbled on this place when we dropped off I-5 SB in search of a soda. The place is tiny and doesn't look much from the outside. But it's clean and friendly. We wound up with 3 adobada street tacos at $0.60 a piece and a couple of refreshing horchatas. The corn tortillas were fresh and the snack was perfect and got us back on the road really quickly. Tacoma has a gem for tacos!
(4)Corinne P.
FINALLY AN AWESOME MEXICAN RESTAURANT with no mystery hair randomly in the middle of the taco. This place is pretty tasty and cheap. You get massive amounts of food and endless basket of chips. The chips are warm and crispy. They have around 5 different self served salsa. The ingredients are fresh and the food comes out very quickly. The only gripe that I have and I won't even knock down a star is the language barrier. If you don't know Spanish at all, you'll have a problem ordering if you are a vegetarian. Here's the layout, one of two friends that were with me is a vegetarian. Of course, she doesn't know how to speak spanish. She ordered an enchilida with no meat, basically all she wanted was cheese in it. Well, the first time the waitress came out, the enchilida had pork and cheese in it. She took it back, explained that she wanted no meat in it. The waitress said no meat, so we thought she understood. It comes out the second time, but it had chicken and no beans on the plate. So we sent it back, now this time our other friend translated into spanish what my other friend wanted. So about 5 minutes later, the manager comes over, and she talked to my linguist. Somehow they didn't understand that my friend wanted no meat what so ever, and I guess couldn't comprehend. Finally, after all of this, the manager said just tell us she's a "veggie". So lesson learned. If you are a vegetarian.. just say you're a veggie.. then anyone who goes here won't have this ordeal. On a positive note, my "veggie" friend loved her meal and she will return to this restaurant and as will I.
(5)Amy B.
I absolutely love this place. It's close to home, and convenient. They do phone in orders as well, which is extremely helpful if your in a hurry, on your way home, or on lunch for work. If you're looking for as close to authentic that you can find up here, then this is the place.
(5)Alan S.
Great tacos. Grew up in Los Angeles, and this is the closest thing to Southern California/ Mexico tacos I've found here. Torta is really good also
(5)R R.
Peh. Went there b/c of the Yelp reviews. The menu on the wall behind the counter is digital, and bounces around. My burrito was lukewarm and cold in spots. They put french fries in the burrito.
(2)Alejandro S.
Authentic Mexican with some unauthentic menu items. All the breakfast burritos have hash browns. The workers aren't too pleasant but it's a place for some decent Mexican food; though I think it is slightly overpriced compared to other taquerias.
(3)Andrew G.
After coming here for three years I'm finally giving them their much need thanks in writing. Everything is always great, affordable, and with a free salsa bar nowhere else compares! Can't wait til next time!
(5)Fly_Gu Y.
Good luck finding a place to park cause the parking lot is tiney tiny. There are probably 12-15 parking slots that are shared amongst the a handful of businesses. I witnessed car after car drive in only to drive off due to nowhere to park. The inside of the restaurant consisted of an ordering counter and small seating area. At first it seemed as if we wouldn't find a place to sit but folks are ordering, eating, and leaving at a constant pace. Truly a revolving door. The food was probably the best Mexican food I've had since moving to the PNW and rivals many of the Mexican places I frequented in AZ. I am not big on Mexican cuisine but when I do eat it, I want it to taste like the food at Taqueria El Antojo. I like this place a lot and will return the next time im in the area and have a hankering for quick Mex. The only thing I will do differently is drive the beater car!
(4)Rusty S.
What a score! Fast, cheap, and AWESOME! This place serves *real* tacos-- the kind you would get in Mexico rather than what you would find at Taco Bell. Along with rice, beans, a small salad, and some stuff (cabbage, carrots, peppers, limes, salsa, etc.) from the fresh salsa bar the marinated pork tacos were the star attraction of a great lunch at a good price: $7.50 w/ tax. Service was pretty quick and the restaurant seemed to be new and clean. Can't wait to come back and try some more of their menu!
(5)Ann L.
Delicious food, reasonable prices, no frills experience. This is a no-waiter, telenovela on in the back, help yourself to chips type of place. It is also clean and the food is tasty and at the right price. 10% discount for military.
(4)Juan and Claudia V.
Yelp Yelp Yelp, especially with the Northwest raters.... we go off of some of the reviews and once again we've been let down. This place is definitely not a 4 1/2 and if you give it more than a 4 then you don't know your tacos or mexican food. Oh well what's 5 for me obviously it would be L.A. or Mexican tacos. The only good thing about these tacos and/or tortas (which we ate) is a lot of meat and variety (not quality) of types of sauces. Their carne asada is good but anything else (we tried pastor and cabeza) is horrible. Horrible. Lengua is nothing special and just ok. Customer service is ok, don't expect much anyways since its a taqueria and YOU SHOULDN'T. The place is not a 'casita' and its more Americanized, we should had figure why it got a big ratings. If you want more 'casita' or better tacos then head down the street to El Sabroso. Or if you want the best and live in Puyallup go to the Taco Bus in Meridian.
(3)Courtney P.
A great find right off i5 when we were hungry and tired of traffic. Tasty tacos and an array of sauces with their salsa bar. A workerant but friendly staff.
(4)Ted S.
Great, authentic Mexican at a very reasonable price. Not only was the food great, but the staff was very friendly and willing to make recommendations. Awesome meal.
(5)Chester B.
Good food at good prices. Not as Americanized as some claim, less so than any chain, and not as much as some of the places I visited in Arizona, or even El Paso.
(4)Evan G.
Gone here a couple times. Everything was okay. Nothing really blew me away, but it wasn't bad either. Would go again.
(3)Jen C.
I stumbled upon this gem on my way South and I was quite impressed. The tacos tasted almost like in Mexico. I had cabeza, carnitas, asada and adobada tacos. The tortillas are handmade to order. The salsa bar is very complete. I ate 7 tacos despite my intent to have 3. The place was spotless (but it was morning) and the service was not fast but once we got our food we realized why. We also had a torta de asada. The torta was your average torta. Nothing wrong with it. For the same price you can pick from the soda fountain or horchata, jaimaca or tamarind beverages, which are the classic flavors you find at a taqueria in Mexico. I'm sad we don't have El Antojo in Seattle.
(5)Charles - Darla M.
Sister and I ordered De Mole chicken enchiladas and 5 chicken tacos. The mole sauce is perfect, not too sweet, not too chocolately, thicker, etc. The tacos, just perfect seasoning, not salty, etc. We will def going back there!!! It's located on the corner of Bridgeport Way SW & Pacific Hwy SW in Lakewood at the light.
(5)jerritt c.
Oh heck yeah, another Antojo location. Crazy flat panel digital menus. Why they are investing so much in technology I don't know but it lends a certain legitimacy to the whole enterprise, like the PA system wired up to voice orders back a whole 7 feet to the cooks. This legitimacy taken away from perhaps primarily by the "special" Antojo presents preserved under saran wrap and on the counter for customer inspection. I'm not saying they serve that, but it was suspicious how fast the order came out. Stick to the tacos. Basically I've only had good service and good food at this location and the McKinley one.
(5)George B.
A friend took me here for lunch a few weeks ago and I was extremely impressed. The food was reasonably priced and very authentic. I would suggest this place to everyone who wants good food,
(5)Jonas C.
It's cheap, it's fast, it's good. Endless chips, salsa bar, quality ingredients. I mean, what's not to like? Seriously. I wish there were one closer. And if that doesn't sell you, I have two words: BOTTOMLESS HORCHATA
(5)Kelly S.
Great, authentic food. The owner is from Jalisco and that is my favorite style of Mexican food. They have a great salsa bar! I'm from Texas and it's about time I found decent Mexican food!
(5)Mike K.
The lengua and horchata taste very fresh. Authentic Mexican food at a great price!
(5)Ashley F.
Ok so I gave into all the great reviews about this place and tried it today. We weren't disappointed either. I had the gorditas and I loved them I had them with the spicy pork very yummy. My husband ordered the taco plate which was three tacos ( chicken, reg pork and spicy pork). He said they were all wonderful and full of flavor but his favorite was the spicy pork. The only thing I was disappointed about was the menudo I was really looking forwarded in finding a place on the weekend that made menudo. The broth was flat and didn't have enough of the chile flavor that I love so much about menudo and also they didn't give us hominy in it what a bummer. I will visit this place again I just won't be ordering the menudo anymore.
(4)Tyler D.
By far the best tacos I have had on a long time. I must try for lunch. 50 cent tacos between 2 and 5 Monday thru Thursday.
(5)Michael F.
I've been stationed at McChord (JBLM) for over 10 years and this is some of the best Mexican foot around. They're open until 11:00 pm Sun-Thu and open until midnight Friday and Saturday which makes it very convenient to get quality food late. There is a variety of selection ranging from very authentic Mexican food to what some would consider Mexican-American. Either way, the food is good, the help is friendly, and the hours are great.
(5)Robert A.
I was on vacation in Tacoma and this place is awesome! While coming and going from the place, I encountered several Mexicans/Hispanics... letting me know that this is the place! The food competes with some of the other authentic Mexican food that I've had. They have fresh food and I was watching them make the fresh tortillas for my tacos and burritos. They have chips and a salsa bar that you can raid while you're waiting for your food. They offer free refills and have soda and horchata available. The prices are great, the food is great, and the place is clean. I wish they had locations everywhere I went.
(5)Cynthia R.
This place has great tacos! The other food items are hit and miss. The beans are usually really great, not a fan of the rice. I would recommend going here to eat. A bit on the pricey side. The carne asada is also a winner as long as the beans are good that day. I haven't tried a ton of stuff on their menu. The posole is awesome! As long as I stick to what I know is good here I leave full and very happy. I really wanna try their breakfast.
(4)Brooke M.
MMMMMMM whenever I am craving fast, YUMMY Mexican food, this place is my hook up!! I have had most things on the menu, and I have yet to be disappointed. Service is fast, and courteous. They only lost one star because occasionally when I phone in an order, its hard to tell if they are "getting" what I am ordering. However in the restaurant, the service is excellent and the food is great!!
(4)Frine S.
Fast , delicious food. Better than typical and local sit down restaurants. From the drinks to the salsa bar to the food to the desserts , hands down the best !
(5)Mog V.
I had the Arroz con Pollo (Rice and Chicken). As a Mexican American I have been eating this for years across the country. This is by far, without question, the absolute worst I have ever had. I have never had this dish with the chicken covered in a bland can like tomato sauce. Zero flavor . The salad was still wet mixing with the dressing. I had to wait for the cooked japaleno which was delivered after I had consumed most of the meal. That being said others must like this place as it is filled mostly with young military from Joint Base Lewis McChord. Now Bob (Gringo), my desk mate, in all fairness loves this place and only gets the taco dishes which he claims are what they are truly known for. As for me, I won't return. Hasta la vista.
(1)Michael G.
Good Mexican food and great prices! All you can eat FREE chips and salsa... free refills on horchata! Its good in my book!
(4)Mike C.
I can't tell enough people about this place. If you love REAL mexican food hit this place up. It has all the great mexican flavor of a sit down restaurant but its so fast it should be fast food. Hit it up on the weekends to get pazole or menudo. One of the best I've had!
(5)Jason B.
Very clean restaurant with all you can drink fountain drinks,horchata tamarindo. Excellent salsa bar, handmade tortillas very authentic great tasting food.
(5)Dead M.
Stop in this place for some lunch check the reviews all good food was tasty delicious I will be back. delish!
(4)Ida G.
I had the pozole, which was tasty. My wife had a burrito which was good but was on the salty side...later she felt like she was having an MSG reaction. Not sure if they use it but something to consider if you visit
(3)Carolyn S.
Amazing. Great service, excellent food. They have a well stocked fresh salsa bar, with a great selection. I reccomend grabbing a side or the marinated cabbage, and some onions to throw on your tacos.
(5)Rich P.
Great food! Great prices! Except after you leave and they add another $8 tip to a $9.50 bill. The charge on my debit card was $17 and change... could have been a mistake? If you eat $17 worth of food in this place, you might literally burst. $10 gets you a huge meal and drink, easy.
(2)Chad R.
Best Mexican food I have had in Tacoma. Very authentic. Being from Phoenix I'm used to this kind of fare being offered on every street often the name ending in "to's" as in "Filiberto's' or "Humberto's'. Their tacos are cheap and good. Order them in mass quantities because you will want more. The salsa bar has some great choices and the complimentary chips to go with them are a great addition. After trying a variety of so called "authentic" Mexican restaurants in Tacoma, this is the real deal. If you think "El Toro" is real Mexican food, I feel bad for you. I know that sounds like an elitist point of view but that's how strongly I feel about the subject.
(4)Riley P.
I really am impressed.
(5)Kate A.
Servers were friendly, service was fast and all the meats that i had in my tacos were delicious! I tried lengua for the first time and loved it! Horchata was sweet and rich, like dessert. I'm looking forward to stopping by for their 2-5pm $.50 taco special.
(4)Jew C.
best tacos i've ever had, hands down!
(5)jessica k.
This place has great food, great service. And amazing horchada!!!! Plus the prices are decent and we normally don't wait too long on our to-go orders. :]
(4)Jack H.
A great, small Mexican restaurant with efficient and pleasant staff. Food, as many others have noted, is outstanding, and salsa bar is very nice. This is a simple, clean place that will seem like home by your second or third visit. The only problem I've noticed is limited and sometimes difficult parking, but the food is worth an occasional parking hassle. There is a vacant lot next door you can park in, though its surface is very rough.
(5)Kevin W.
I came across this restaurant after seeing it advertised on a sign for food on I-5. I was pretty much hungry enough to settle for anything, but this restaurant went above and beyond. It's not really fast food, more like casual dining where you order at the counter. The food was spectacular and they seem to care about customer satisfaction, so even though this was only intended to be a brief stop on a long road trip, this place gets five stars. I ordered the pollo asado, which didn't take too long to arrive. What's truly amazing about this dish is that it felt like they served me a whole cooked chicken. Portions were huge, and that's not even including the rice, beans, salad, and tortillas that came with it. They asked me, "was it good?" after my meal was over, and the answer is definitely yes. If you also take into consideration their services like a calorie counter on their menu and a guarantee that you'll love the food on the first bite or they'll replace it for free with another one, you have a five-star restaurant in disguise.
(5)Brent W.
Authentic on food albeit a bit salty on the pork verde dish. But the restaurant is filled with Spanish speakers so that's a promising sign. My issue comes down to lack of cleanliness. I am certain they would not score well on a food inspection. The floor was dirty with litter, the hot sauce bar was a mess with drippings all over the place. And the men's bathroom had an overflow of garbage outside of the garbage can along with a dirty toilet - all telltale signs of a future food illness. Additionally the tables did not feel clean, basically I felt like eating but not touching anything - not the dining experience I was looking for. Perhaps lunch take out is the best way to go with this one...
(3)Jenni M.
Some of the best Mexican food I've been able to find in the state of Washington! We stopped in here late last night after attending a party in Olympia that only served cream puffs. We were starving for real food on the way home to Kent and luckily they were open super late. The place was hopping for 10:30 PM which I took as a good sign. My fiancé and I shared six carne asada tacos and they were delicious! Juicy, tender grilled meat and onions and a nice house salsa on top. $10 for a relatively healthy late night snack for two is a great deal. I noticed a few folks ordered menudo and it looked amazing. They also had a decent looking breakfast menu. I don't make it that far south very often, but next time I do I'll be back and try that next time for sure. This is 10X better than any chain fast food restaurant!
(4)Uriel V.
Wow some great Mexican food, and that's fr a guy from Los Angeles. Very fast service great taste very fresh and it's true free unlimited tortillas chips and salasas
(5)Michele E.
Three stars. It was a Taco Bell version of Authentic Mexican tacos today. I was super excited for these tacos because I like when tacos are just dressed with the bare necessities: cilantro, lime, meat and onions and I just don't know it tasted very bland minimally seasoned and warm and the refried beans and rice tasted like it's been there for a whole.
(3)Ashley B.
After dining here, I can say that it is better than their McKinley spot. We got the usual: enchitamal (chicken enchilada and chicken tamale with a side of rice and beans). Good pricing and big portions. Service was good. Two different waitresses came by to ask how our food was and took our plates/trash away. If you like good tamales, come here! I have tried many places and from other people, but this place has the best ones!
(5)Jeff H.
I kind of just stumbled upon this place when me and my wife needed some dinner. It was delicious! Service was polite and the food came out pretty quick. The only little complaint I have is that the free chips were in a warmer, but they weren't very warm. They were still good, though, and the salsas were all pretty good, too. Me and my wife both got burritos. She just got beans, cheese and rice....I know, where's the wild side!? Anyways, I got carnitas with sour cream added. Just so you all know, sour cream is extra. Some people seemed a little angry about it. I got a carnitas burrito which was very good. Meat was tender and I wasn't slighted on any of the ingredients. Very good place, give it a try!
(4)L P.
3.5 stars!!! A fantastic "fast-food" Mexican restaurant. It's located just off the I-5... a wonderful, not your typical, fast food joint. The ambiance very much encourages take out orders, but has some seating. The menu is diverse and you get unlimited free chips! I ordered a California burrito... and although it isn't your typical California burrito... it was very good. I'll be back when I'm craving some Mexican cuisine!
(3)Sonia S.
I come here on occasion being that it is close to home. Prices are decent, although they have raised them a couple of times. I always opt for the carne asada burrito and it is always good. On weekends they have AYCE menu during breakfast hours. The menu for that is a bit confusing as it is set up in three different tiers. Customer service can be a little iffy and most often isnt particular friendly. Bottom line: Fast, convenient, tasty, and not too bad on the pockets.
(4)Sandy M.
Was really good until I found a long black hair in my beans. Gross. I wanted to like this place but that kinda thing is indicative of filth behind the wall in the kitchen. We got take out which I thought was good because the tables were pretty dirty, I guess the whole place is dirty.
(1)Drew Q.
A MAN'S MAN Review of Taqueria El Antojo in LakeHOOD This place is waaay too expensive! I spent $15 for the flautas de pollo (number # 29 on the menu) platter or for ya'll non-speaking Spanish it's flour tortillas filled with shredded seasoned chicken, cheese possibly Mexican creme, and deep fried. However, the portion was big and it came with Spanish rice & refried beans. The platter itself was about $9, then another $6 for the guacamole, sour cream, and refillable soda. To add guacamole it cost almost $2.65! It wasn't even fresh guacamole but the prepared and packaged kind that you'd buy at Safeway! Big ol' thumbs down! Boo-hoo hoo! There was an additional charge to add sour cream. I did get sick from this place but it was because they had Mexican Coke pouring freely from the soda fountain machine! I was sucking down that stuff like it was the fountain of youth! Then there was the tamarind stuff that was flowing freely! I was sucking down that stuff too! There was other sweet drinks to choose from but my eyes locked onto the tamarind juice. I guess the price of the meal was a bit too much but everything was forgiven! You could eat yourself to death all the tortilla chips and salsa from the bar! At the bar was sliced limes, pickled carrots & onions, and various salsas to choose from. My one gripe is the Mexican music blaring from the speakers inside. It's a bit too loud for my precious ears and would be cool if they turned it down a bit. I can only imagine the poor souls working here being subjected to overly loud music thru out their work shift. Imagine working retail during the holidays starting from the beginning of November to the end of Christmas having to listen to Christmas music all day. Yeah, that sucks! I've done it for a long time and sometimes I just feel like if I had to listen to Frosty the Snowman or Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer one more time I seriously wanted to kill myself. That's how I felt while I ate my ultra high priced platter of flauatas and all you can eat tortilla chips & salsa. Music is just too loud! This location is at the end of Ponders. Kind of really sketchy location of LakeHOOD but it's frequented by the Lakewood Police and military personnel coming from McChord Field across I-5. I drive by this place a lot and do see the Lakewood PD parked so I'm hoping they are there to eat. The staff was friendly and non-intrusive. I don't like to be bothered after getting my meal. I just want to be left alone. Sorta like a prison inmate guarding his tray of slop & corn bread from other inmates. Do you want yo cooorn breaddd!? The menu can be a bit overwhelming so I recommend that you visit their website and preview what's available before stepping inside to order because it's going to be hard to concentrate with the music blaring in your face and the tamarind juice machine flowing like the fountain of youth.
(3)Kenny R.
Nothing wrong with this place! Menu is great...excellent salsa bar. Hours are great too!
(4)Ju B.
They had some pretty good menudo here. I'm going back for more. They tripe and the little balls in there I forgot what it is called....
(4)Anthony G.
The salsa was not good...at all. My buddy had the enchiladas and it tasted like fish. He couldn't eat it. I had the California burrito and it was good.
(2)Michelle F.
I love this place. It's the ambiance of family owned "hole in the wall" Mexican food that I was accustomed to in California. If you're looking for some sort of high priced, snobby Mexican food, this is not the place. Their food is good, hearty, and inexpensive. Also, unlimited chips. Hell yeah.
(5)Jennifer R.
This is the closest to authentic Mexican in the Pac NW as it gets I believe. The kitchen staff only speaks Spanish & the music is music to my ears being from TX. Give me the chile verde 4 days a week! The papusas are close to my ex mother in laws, and very tasty. The salsas add good, and the Mexican coke. I truly enjoy this place!
(4)Jared W.
The bomb. Their 3 $ Antojo burrito is great as are their more expensive stuff. Good, fast and real!
(4)Yoon H.
I am new to the area and I came here thinking it would be good because of all the reviews. I don't know if it was just a bad nite or this place always has bad service. The lady at the register didn't even look at me to take my order. Then she got my order wrong I asked for tortillas on the side instead of inside the soup since this was takeout. When I mentioned it to them they dumped half of the soup out and handed me it. :(
(1)Carlee S.
We visited Taqueria El Antojo for lunch and it was the best decision we could have made! My husband - who lived in Mexico for 6 months - dubbed the rice and beans from his enchilada Mexicana authentic and the enchiladas delicious, noting that the tortillas were authentic as well. As suggested by the woman taking our order, I got the enchilada California, since I'm a pansy about spices, and it was mild but packed with flavor! I had to use a knife to cut it.... It was packed so full of chicken I couldn't cut it with my fork!! Free chips to sweeten the deal and help pass the short time it took to get our food (about 8 minutes even though the place was packed full of people!). We will definitely go again. Right off of exit 125, easy access from the interstate makes this place a no brainier for lunch! Forgot to mention..... So cheap for authentic food!! Three meals, two drinks and a side of sour cream for about $30. Can't beat that!
(5)Chris S.
Always awesome once again they did a awesome job food is good quick and the service always with a smile.
(4)Ross M.
The siren song of this tacqueria is the selve-serve chips and grande salsa bar; the horchata is aight. The staff are friendly and the service is great. I had a decent carnitas burrito here a while back, but ever since I can't seem to score something that doesn't taste like salt lick. At risk of being a finicky gringo I'm a bit bummed by their lack of veg options. On my last go-around I asked for a burrito menos carne with fajita veggies, guac, sour cream and a chile relleno (Im aware of the nutritional irony here). My relleno request was denied and what I got was a $10 brine burro. I reckon its 3 strikes n an out for this salty dog.
(3)Bam M.
El Antojo has great Mexican food for the price but their service is awful. I've come here twice and both times I got attitude for asking for a vegetarian torta. Ever want to feel the scorn of a bitter employee? Come here!
(1)Amiee V.
Really good! I ordered shrimp ceviche and fried tilapia and both were delicious. Cannot wait to return and try other items.
(5)Matt B.
Great Mexican food at a good price. Parking sucks, but you can't beat free unlimited chips and a variety of salsas.
(4)Harley N.
Great food and price, tried a few items on different occasions all were good. Call ahead and take home or eat there and enjoy complementary chips and salsa
(5)Stefania S.
The tacos are delicious!! Especially the chicken! Also, the green salsa was the best, in my opinion. The cleanest taqueria I've ever been to! I will definitely come back and try the rest of their food.
(5)Derrik B.
Delicious street tacos and generally a clean place, price is right I really enjoy this place.
(5)Matt H.
We stopped by this restaurant on a drive down I-5. We wanted a quiet place for dinner but wanted to stay away from the big chains. Using my phone to find this place, I was impressed. There's s great variety of Mexican food, reasonable prices, and the food was really good!
(5)Malcolm R.
My favorite dish is the street tacos! The shrimp quesadillas are good too. We come here often and are rarely if ever disappointed. Bar is large and good for groups and parties too.
(5)Jon G.
Average at best. This was one of the first places we went when we moved to the NW from Denver. Dead stare from lady taking orders, it was mid afternoon and you could tell the food was prepared for lunch rush and had been sitting since then. I forget what they're called but I ordered the little things that look like a quesadilla but have meat in them. The tortillas were old and dry and the meat was hard and dry. The lady didn't tell us about the free chips and salsa and we only noticed it when some other customers got some and we were almost done eating. It wouldn't be too hard to say, "free chips" and point at them. I've never seen that before. I wish I would have gotten something wet because my plate with the three plain little things on it with no sauce was depressing.
(2)Yen E.
I came strictly for their horchata. It is nothing like the ones I have had back home in So Cal. Actually, it wasn't tasty at all. Their tacos look delicious though. They lack in service and are waaaaaaay too busy talking to each other. I had to stand around for 5 minutes waiting for them to finish their conversation to ask them to refill the horchata machine.
(2)C S.
My girlfriend just found a ling hair wraped in her dinner plate and when she confronted the waitress she was treated as if she was a snob for not wanting to eat someone elses hair. Gross. Well time to find a different spot.
(1)Noel B.
Their Horchata is lacking, however, their hibiscus and tamarind are phenomenal. The food is AMAZING. I love their tacos and mulitas. They are absolutely some of the best "restaurant" tacos I've ever had. They still take second place to my friend's, but she's Mexican through and through, so she has no excuse ;)
(4)Chris L.
It's a little more pricier than Mexican food I am used to but it's pretty good. I found the carnitas tacos to be very good. They also have a nice salsa bar selection and the restaurant itself was clean and well-maintained.
(4)Erica J.
I start doing "menudo chasing" project and this is 2nd stop. Friendly service, free chips and salad bar and maybe that's why this place is so crowed. The salsa in the salad bar is canned and the menudo taste just OK. .
(3)Sean D.
Quick and good service. Food was fresh and tasty. We will be back.
(3)Russty N.
I'm from a place where we don't have a lot of genuine Mexican places so this is a real treat. We tried the tacos, burritos, enchiladas and quesadilla. All were good, some hotter than others. Nice to have endless drinks and free chips and salsa. Everybody was speaking Spanish but we managed our orders and understood what we were getting.
(3)Joseph K.
This place has amazing pupusas at a reasonable price. And the customer service is always great!
(4)Daisy J.
I had Pozole Pork soup... let me tell you it is the most delicious Pozole ever!! The pork is super tender and the soup was full of flavor. I'll defiantly come back to try more food when I am in Tacoma.
(4)Maddie R.
+Salsa bar +Refillable horchata and self serve sodas +Easy counter service +Fast +Clean tables +Price I had three pollo tacos and two tamales..delicious! Three of us ate for less than $20.
(4)John C.
We like this location the best and everything we've tried has been great! The first time we tried this place we went twice a week!!!
(5)Isabel A.
Love this authentic Mexican restaurant! I ALWAYS GET THEIR COCTEL DE CAMARON (SHRIMP COCKTAIL) either to eat there or to go! My parents lives in Lakewood so I visit them 2-3 times a month and most of the time I don't have time to sit down, but I always make sure I get it to go... or else, my husband will be upset. He was born and grew until he was 6 years old in Guadalajara and he just loves this place. We cannot find this in Seattle you know? All of their other food are also good! I've gotten tacos and burritos here as well. Everyday they have a meal that is designated as 50% off-- so take advantage of that! I've turned my friends who lives in the area and have never been here to love this place :) I highly recommend this to everyone if you like Mexican food.
(5)Neko G.
The menu can be a bit overwhelming but don't be afraid to try something different. The soups are awesome for cold icky days and more than enough for one person. The enchiladas are def yummy and will have you licking the plate. The only things I didn't like was the quesadillas. I'm just a cheese and meat kind of gal and they add lettuce to it. I guess I'm just use to the old stand by. Bonus free chips and salsa! Staff is extremely friendly & they have a full bar.
(5)Haley M.
Very good food, a bit pricey for the atmosphere though. It looks kind of like a converted Papa John's or something, they have a few tables though. My husband LOVES the carnitas tacos, my kids can share one of their giant cheese quesadillas. Authentic Mexican cuisine, coming from a Texan I promise it's not Tex-Mex. Aside from it being a little hard on the wallet, my only issue is with someone always (seriously, every single time) begging for money out front. But, they don't stop us from dropping by once or twice a month.
(4)Bryant C.
I had the fajita burrito and my wife had the papusas. Both were very good, and the portions were big. I'd definitely eat there again the next time I'm in town.
(4)Jordan W.
This place is amazing!!! Very authentic. The burritos are huge and I would defiantly recommend this place to everyone.
(5)Rachel D.
Amazing food! We got a California burrito and a regular burrito and both were delicious. The shredded beef is so good. Free chips and salsa bar.
(5)Krystal J.
Having spent time in California, I'm a bit spoiled when it comes to Mexican food. I'm used to cheap prices, huge portions and tons of flavor. I've actively avoided Mexican food since moving back to Washington until I came here. The food is good, the salsa is fresh and the staff is helpful as long as you don't mind a thick accent. The four star rating is because I wish the portions were larger, no other reason.
(4)Ashley B.
Love this place! Growing up in Oklahoma and Texas we had delicious, authentic Mexican food. This is the best thing to home I could find out here! :)
(4)Elizabeth H.
I love their tortas! I usually go back and forth between the taco platter and the torta so I can't speak for the rest of the menu but no one I've ever dined w had ever complained. As far as the parking goes, I've only had problems during lunch and if you can't get a spot, just wait a minute or two. They have a pretty good turnover. There is a homeless guy lurking around the parking lot most days but he's harmless.
(4)Fernando L.
Closest to authentic Mexican food that I've had since moving to the PNW from Southern California. Very good food and isn't expensive at all.
(5)Jay R.
all i have to say is..."all you can eat breakfast!!!" bring your appetite, cuz you will get full and your monies worth too. i tear up 2 bfast burritos...light potato, no salsa, eggs, cheese, bacon. or sausage or chorizo. but they have awhole lot more. i got on weekends once in a while....good eats. eventually i will get to the other items but for now i enjoy what i want. also they bring it to your table after you order.
(5)Sarah E.
OMG why haven't I stopped here before!? It is in an unsuspecting strip mall on the corner of Bridgeport Way and Pacific, and is a very convenient stop on my way back to Oly. We stopped in for a quick Mexican fix and it was the best decision of the night. We tried the carnitas and lengue tacos. They were street tacos for $1.09, which is an OK price (Hey I'm from Cali, home of plentiful cheap Mexican food). They were really really delicious though, so they might be worth it. This place has very authentic Mexican food and I will definitely be back to try many other things on their menu!
(4)Tania M.
I don't get the amazing reviews, this place sucks! Not authentic as Mexican can get in small restaurants setting, way too expensive for the sizes, food is actually very mediocre and the place was filthy.. Never again, I've stopped at food carts better than this. Two thumbs down!!
(1)Ashley B.
Great breakfast burritos and tortas. Reasonable pricing and friendly staff! I visit this place when I want authentic mexican food!
(4)Heather M.
Great food but little parking; but not much they can do about that. fast service and friendly staff made for an excellent lunch! Will be eating there again
(5)Nancy M.
The quality of food lately has changed, before it was a good fill in for the time being and now its starting to taste more and more americanized. I mean before it wasn't the best mexican food ever but it was good for WA standards and now, not so much. The last few times here made my mind up that I won't be back. Its almost as it they let the hype get to their head and thought since they're getting a lot of a regular clientele anyways that they didn't have to focus on flavor and quality. Who knows...
(2)Kevin W.
I came across this restaurant after seeing it advertised on a sign for food on I-5. I was pretty much hungry enough to settle for anything, but this restaurant went above and beyond. It's not really fast food, more like casual dining where you order at the counter. The food was spectacular and they seem to care about customer satisfaction, so even though this was only intended to be a brief stop on a long road trip, this place gets five stars. I ordered the pollo asado, which didn't take too long to arrive. What's truly amazing about this dish is that it felt like they served me a whole cooked chicken. Portions were huge, and that's not even including the rice, beans, salad, and tortillas that came with it. They asked me, "was it good?" after my meal was over, and the answer is definitely yes. If you also take into consideration their services like a calorie counter on their menu and a guarantee that you'll love the food on the first bite or they'll replace it for free with another one, you have a five-star restaurant in disguise.
(5)Brent W.
Authentic on food albeit a bit salty on the pork verde dish. But the restaurant is filled with Spanish speakers so that's a promising sign. My issue comes down to lack of cleanliness. I am certain they would not score well on a food inspection. The floor was dirty with litter, the hot sauce bar was a mess with drippings all over the place. And the men's bathroom had an overflow of garbage outside of the garbage can along with a dirty toilet - all telltale signs of a future food illness. Additionally the tables did not feel clean, basically I felt like eating but not touching anything - not the dining experience I was looking for. Perhaps lunch take out is the best way to go with this one...
(3)Jenni M.
Some of the best Mexican food I've been able to find in the state of Washington! We stopped in here late last night after attending a party in Olympia that only served cream puffs. We were starving for real food on the way home to Kent and luckily they were open super late. The place was hopping for 10:30 PM which I took as a good sign. My fiancé and I shared six carne asada tacos and they were delicious! Juicy, tender grilled meat and onions and a nice house salsa on top. $10 for a relatively healthy late night snack for two is a great deal. I noticed a few folks ordered menudo and it looked amazing. They also had a decent looking breakfast menu. I don't make it that far south very often, but next time I do I'll be back and try that next time for sure. This is 10X better than any chain fast food restaurant!
(4)Uriel V.
Wow some great Mexican food, and that's fr a guy from Los Angeles. Very fast service great taste very fresh and it's true free unlimited tortillas chips and salasas
(5)Michele E.
Three stars. It was a Taco Bell version of Authentic Mexican tacos today. I was super excited for these tacos because I like when tacos are just dressed with the bare necessities: cilantro, lime, meat and onions and I just don't know it tasted very bland minimally seasoned and warm and the refried beans and rice tasted like it's been there for a whole.
(3)Ashley B.
After dining here, I can say that it is better than their McKinley spot. We got the usual: enchitamal (chicken enchilada and chicken tamale with a side of rice and beans). Good pricing and big portions. Service was good. Two different waitresses came by to ask how our food was and took our plates/trash away. If you like good tamales, come here! I have tried many places and from other people, but this place has the best ones!
(5)Jeff H.
I kind of just stumbled upon this place when me and my wife needed some dinner. It was delicious! Service was polite and the food came out pretty quick. The only little complaint I have is that the free chips were in a warmer, but they weren't very warm. They were still good, though, and the salsas were all pretty good, too. Me and my wife both got burritos. She just got beans, cheese and rice....I know, where's the wild side!? Anyways, I got carnitas with sour cream added. Just so you all know, sour cream is extra. Some people seemed a little angry about it. I got a carnitas burrito which was very good. Meat was tender and I wasn't slighted on any of the ingredients. Very good place, give it a try!
(4)L P.
3.5 stars!!! A fantastic "fast-food" Mexican restaurant. It's located just off the I-5... a wonderful, not your typical, fast food joint. The ambiance very much encourages take out orders, but has some seating. The menu is diverse and you get unlimited free chips! I ordered a California burrito... and although it isn't your typical California burrito... it was very good. I'll be back when I'm craving some Mexican cuisine!
(3)Sonia S.
I come here on occasion being that it is close to home. Prices are decent, although they have raised them a couple of times. I always opt for the carne asada burrito and it is always good. On weekends they have AYCE menu during breakfast hours. The menu for that is a bit confusing as it is set up in three different tiers. Customer service can be a little iffy and most often isnt particular friendly. Bottom line: Fast, convenient, tasty, and not too bad on the pockets.
(4)Sandy M.
Was really good until I found a long black hair in my beans. Gross. I wanted to like this place but that kinda thing is indicative of filth behind the wall in the kitchen. We got take out which I thought was good because the tables were pretty dirty, I guess the whole place is dirty.
(1)Michelle F.
I love this place. It's the ambiance of family owned "hole in the wall" Mexican food that I was accustomed to in California. If you're looking for some sort of high priced, snobby Mexican food, this is not the place. Their food is good, hearty, and inexpensive. Also, unlimited chips. Hell yeah.
(5)Jennifer R.
This is the closest to authentic Mexican in the Pac NW as it gets I believe. The kitchen staff only speaks Spanish & the music is music to my ears being from TX. Give me the chile verde 4 days a week! The papusas are close to my ex mother in laws, and very tasty. The salsas add good, and the Mexican coke. I truly enjoy this place!
(4)Jared W.
The bomb. Their 3 $ Antojo burrito is great as are their more expensive stuff. Good, fast and real!
(4)Yoon H.
I am new to the area and I came here thinking it would be good because of all the reviews. I don't know if it was just a bad nite or this place always has bad service. The lady at the register didn't even look at me to take my order. Then she got my order wrong I asked for tortillas on the side instead of inside the soup since this was takeout. When I mentioned it to them they dumped half of the soup out and handed me it. :(
(1)Matt H.
We stopped by this restaurant on a drive down I-5. We wanted a quiet place for dinner but wanted to stay away from the big chains. Using my phone to find this place, I was impressed. There's s great variety of Mexican food, reasonable prices, and the food was really good!
(5)Malcolm R.
My favorite dish is the street tacos! The shrimp quesadillas are good too. We come here often and are rarely if ever disappointed. Bar is large and good for groups and parties too.
(5)Drew Q.
A MAN'S MAN Review of Taqueria El Antojo in LakeHOOD This place is waaay too expensive! I spent $15 for the flautas de pollo (number # 29 on the menu) platter or for ya'll non-speaking Spanish it's flour tortillas filled with shredded seasoned chicken, cheese possibly Mexican creme, and deep fried. However, the portion was big and it came with Spanish rice & refried beans. The platter itself was about $9, then another $6 for the guacamole, sour cream, and refillable soda. To add guacamole it cost almost $2.65! It wasn't even fresh guacamole but the prepared and packaged kind that you'd buy at Safeway! Big ol' thumbs down! Boo-hoo hoo! There was an additional charge to add sour cream. I did get sick from this place but it was because they had Mexican Coke pouring freely from the soda fountain machine! I was sucking down that stuff like it was the fountain of youth! Then there was the tamarind stuff that was flowing freely! I was sucking down that stuff too! There was other sweet drinks to choose from but my eyes locked onto the tamarind juice. I guess the price of the meal was a bit too much but everything was forgiven! You could eat yourself to death all the tortilla chips and salsa from the bar! At the bar was sliced limes, pickled carrots & onions, and various salsas to choose from. My one gripe is the Mexican music blaring from the speakers inside. It's a bit too loud for my precious ears and would be cool if they turned it down a bit. I can only imagine the poor souls working here being subjected to overly loud music thru out their work shift. Imagine working retail during the holidays starting from the beginning of November to the end of Christmas having to listen to Christmas music all day. Yeah, that sucks! I've done it for a long time and sometimes I just feel like if I had to listen to Frosty the Snowman or Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer one more time I seriously wanted to kill myself. That's how I felt while I ate my ultra high priced platter of flauatas and all you can eat tortilla chips & salsa. Music is just too loud! This location is at the end of Ponders. Kind of really sketchy location of LakeHOOD but it's frequented by the Lakewood Police and military personnel coming from McChord Field across I-5. I drive by this place a lot and do see the Lakewood PD parked so I'm hoping they are there to eat. The staff was friendly and non-intrusive. I don't like to be bothered after getting my meal. I just want to be left alone. Sorta like a prison inmate guarding his tray of slop & corn bread from other inmates. Do you want yo cooorn breaddd!? The menu can be a bit overwhelming so I recommend that you visit their website and preview what's available before stepping inside to order because it's going to be hard to concentrate with the music blaring in your face and the tamarind juice machine flowing like the fountain of youth.
(3)Kenny R.
Nothing wrong with this place! Menu is great...excellent salsa bar. Hours are great too!
(4)Ju B.
They had some pretty good menudo here. I'm going back for more. They tripe and the little balls in there I forgot what it is called....
(4)Anthony G.
The salsa was not good...at all. My buddy had the enchiladas and it tasted like fish. He couldn't eat it. I had the California burrito and it was good.
(2)Carlee S.
We visited Taqueria El Antojo for lunch and it was the best decision we could have made! My husband - who lived in Mexico for 6 months - dubbed the rice and beans from his enchilada Mexicana authentic and the enchiladas delicious, noting that the tortillas were authentic as well. As suggested by the woman taking our order, I got the enchilada California, since I'm a pansy about spices, and it was mild but packed with flavor! I had to use a knife to cut it.... It was packed so full of chicken I couldn't cut it with my fork!! Free chips to sweeten the deal and help pass the short time it took to get our food (about 8 minutes even though the place was packed full of people!). We will definitely go again. Right off of exit 125, easy access from the interstate makes this place a no brainier for lunch! Forgot to mention..... So cheap for authentic food!! Three meals, two drinks and a side of sour cream for about $30. Can't beat that!
(5)Chris S.
Always awesome once again they did a awesome job food is good quick and the service always with a smile.
(4)Ross M.
The siren song of this tacqueria is the selve-serve chips and grande salsa bar; the horchata is aight. The staff are friendly and the service is great. I had a decent carnitas burrito here a while back, but ever since I can't seem to score something that doesn't taste like salt lick. At risk of being a finicky gringo I'm a bit bummed by their lack of veg options. On my last go-around I asked for a burrito menos carne with fajita veggies, guac, sour cream and a chile relleno (Im aware of the nutritional irony here). My relleno request was denied and what I got was a $10 brine burro. I reckon its 3 strikes n an out for this salty dog.
(3)Bam M.
El Antojo has great Mexican food for the price but their service is awful. I've come here twice and both times I got attitude for asking for a vegetarian torta. Ever want to feel the scorn of a bitter employee? Come here!
(1)Amiee V.
Really good! I ordered shrimp ceviche and fried tilapia and both were delicious. Cannot wait to return and try other items.
(5)Matt B.
Great Mexican food at a good price. Parking sucks, but you can't beat free unlimited chips and a variety of salsas.
(4)Harley N.
Great food and price, tried a few items on different occasions all were good. Call ahead and take home or eat there and enjoy complementary chips and salsa
(5)Stefania S.
The tacos are delicious!! Especially the chicken! Also, the green salsa was the best, in my opinion. The cleanest taqueria I've ever been to! I will definitely come back and try the rest of their food.
(5)Derrik B.
Delicious street tacos and generally a clean place, price is right I really enjoy this place.
(5)Jon G.
Average at best. This was one of the first places we went when we moved to the NW from Denver. Dead stare from lady taking orders, it was mid afternoon and you could tell the food was prepared for lunch rush and had been sitting since then. I forget what they're called but I ordered the little things that look like a quesadilla but have meat in them. The tortillas were old and dry and the meat was hard and dry. The lady didn't tell us about the free chips and salsa and we only noticed it when some other customers got some and we were almost done eating. It wouldn't be too hard to say, "free chips" and point at them. I've never seen that before. I wish I would have gotten something wet because my plate with the three plain little things on it with no sauce was depressing.
(2)Yen E.
I came strictly for their horchata. It is nothing like the ones I have had back home in So Cal. Actually, it wasn't tasty at all. Their tacos look delicious though. They lack in service and are waaaaaaay too busy talking to each other. I had to stand around for 5 minutes waiting for them to finish their conversation to ask them to refill the horchata machine.
(2)C S.
My girlfriend just found a ling hair wraped in her dinner plate and when she confronted the waitress she was treated as if she was a snob for not wanting to eat someone elses hair. Gross. Well time to find a different spot.
(1)Noel B.
Their Horchata is lacking, however, their hibiscus and tamarind are phenomenal. The food is AMAZING. I love their tacos and mulitas. They are absolutely some of the best "restaurant" tacos I've ever had. They still take second place to my friend's, but she's Mexican through and through, so she has no excuse ;)
(4)Chris L.
It's a little more pricier than Mexican food I am used to but it's pretty good. I found the carnitas tacos to be very good. They also have a nice salsa bar selection and the restaurant itself was clean and well-maintained.
(4)Erica J.
I start doing "menudo chasing" project and this is 2nd stop. Friendly service, free chips and salad bar and maybe that's why this place is so crowed. The salsa in the salad bar is canned and the menudo taste just OK. .
(3)Sean D.
Quick and good service. Food was fresh and tasty. We will be back.
(3)Russty N.
I'm from a place where we don't have a lot of genuine Mexican places so this is a real treat. We tried the tacos, burritos, enchiladas and quesadilla. All were good, some hotter than others. Nice to have endless drinks and free chips and salsa. Everybody was speaking Spanish but we managed our orders and understood what we were getting.
(3)Joseph K.
This place has amazing pupusas at a reasonable price. And the customer service is always great!
(4)Daisy J.
I had Pozole Pork soup... let me tell you it is the most delicious Pozole ever!! The pork is super tender and the soup was full of flavor. I'll defiantly come back to try more food when I am in Tacoma.
(4)Maddie R.
+Salsa bar +Refillable horchata and self serve sodas +Easy counter service +Fast +Clean tables +Price I had three pollo tacos and two tamales..delicious! Three of us ate for less than $20.
(4)John C.
We like this location the best and everything we've tried has been great! The first time we tried this place we went twice a week!!!
(5)Isabel A.
Love this authentic Mexican restaurant! I ALWAYS GET THEIR COCTEL DE CAMARON (SHRIMP COCKTAIL) either to eat there or to go! My parents lives in Lakewood so I visit them 2-3 times a month and most of the time I don't have time to sit down, but I always make sure I get it to go... or else, my husband will be upset. He was born and grew until he was 6 years old in Guadalajara and he just loves this place. We cannot find this in Seattle you know? All of their other food are also good! I've gotten tacos and burritos here as well. Everyday they have a meal that is designated as 50% off-- so take advantage of that! I've turned my friends who lives in the area and have never been here to love this place :) I highly recommend this to everyone if you like Mexican food.
(5)Neko G.
The menu can be a bit overwhelming but don't be afraid to try something different. The soups are awesome for cold icky days and more than enough for one person. The enchiladas are def yummy and will have you licking the plate. The only things I didn't like was the quesadillas. I'm just a cheese and meat kind of gal and they add lettuce to it. I guess I'm just use to the old stand by. Bonus free chips and salsa! Staff is extremely friendly & they have a full bar.
(5)Haley M.
Very good food, a bit pricey for the atmosphere though. It looks kind of like a converted Papa John's or something, they have a few tables though. My husband LOVES the carnitas tacos, my kids can share one of their giant cheese quesadillas. Authentic Mexican cuisine, coming from a Texan I promise it's not Tex-Mex. Aside from it being a little hard on the wallet, my only issue is with someone always (seriously, every single time) begging for money out front. But, they don't stop us from dropping by once or twice a month.
(4)Bryant C.
I had the fajita burrito and my wife had the papusas. Both were very good, and the portions were big. I'd definitely eat there again the next time I'm in town.
(4)Jordan W.
This place is amazing!!! Very authentic. The burritos are huge and I would defiantly recommend this place to everyone.
(5)Rachel D.
Amazing food! We got a California burrito and a regular burrito and both were delicious. The shredded beef is so good. Free chips and salsa bar.
(5)Krystal J.
Having spent time in California, I'm a bit spoiled when it comes to Mexican food. I'm used to cheap prices, huge portions and tons of flavor. I've actively avoided Mexican food since moving back to Washington until I came here. The food is good, the salsa is fresh and the staff is helpful as long as you don't mind a thick accent. The four star rating is because I wish the portions were larger, no other reason.
(4)Ashley B.
Love this place! Growing up in Oklahoma and Texas we had delicious, authentic Mexican food. This is the best thing to home I could find out here! :)
(4)Elizabeth H.
I love their tortas! I usually go back and forth between the taco platter and the torta so I can't speak for the rest of the menu but no one I've ever dined w had ever complained. As far as the parking goes, I've only had problems during lunch and if you can't get a spot, just wait a minute or two. They have a pretty good turnover. There is a homeless guy lurking around the parking lot most days but he's harmless.
(4)Fernando L.
Closest to authentic Mexican food that I've had since moving to the PNW from Southern California. Very good food and isn't expensive at all.
(5)Jay R.
all i have to say is..."all you can eat breakfast!!!" bring your appetite, cuz you will get full and your monies worth too. i tear up 2 bfast burritos...light potato, no salsa, eggs, cheese, bacon. or sausage or chorizo. but they have awhole lot more. i got on weekends once in a while....good eats. eventually i will get to the other items but for now i enjoy what i want. also they bring it to your table after you order.
(5)Sarah E.
OMG why haven't I stopped here before!? It is in an unsuspecting strip mall on the corner of Bridgeport Way and Pacific, and is a very convenient stop on my way back to Oly. We stopped in for a quick Mexican fix and it was the best decision of the night. We tried the carnitas and lengue tacos. They were street tacos for $1.09, which is an OK price (Hey I'm from Cali, home of plentiful cheap Mexican food). They were really really delicious though, so they might be worth it. This place has very authentic Mexican food and I will definitely be back to try many other things on their menu!
(4)Tania M.
I don't get the amazing reviews, this place sucks! Not authentic as Mexican can get in small restaurants setting, way too expensive for the sizes, food is actually very mediocre and the place was filthy.. Never again, I've stopped at food carts better than this. Two thumbs down!!
(1)Ashley B.
Great breakfast burritos and tortas. Reasonable pricing and friendly staff! I visit this place when I want authentic mexican food!
(4)Heather M.
Great food but little parking; but not much they can do about that. fast service and friendly staff made for an excellent lunch! Will be eating there again
(5)Nancy M.
The quality of food lately has changed, before it was a good fill in for the time being and now its starting to taste more and more americanized. I mean before it wasn't the best mexican food ever but it was good for WA standards and now, not so much. The last few times here made my mind up that I won't be back. Its almost as it they let the hype get to their head and thought since they're getting a lot of a regular clientele anyways that they didn't have to focus on flavor and quality. Who knows...
(2)Peggy R.
This is my favorite Taqueria. It's right off the freeway, so really easy to get takeout on the way home. As I had mentioned before, I'm a huge sopes/sopitas fan. This place has them! However, I found something even better. Their gorditas. I had never had a gordita before (I don't think that taco bell counts - and they have NOTHING in common with the gorditas at Antojo). Gorditas come two for about $4. And it's enough for me. The ingredients to the dish is the same as what goes on a sope/sopita. However, whereas I tend to find the masa "boats" on the sopes too thick, the gordita is like a "stuffed sope/sopita". It's corn masa, fried, then cut in half - like how you would make a sandwich. But the very end is still connected - so if you were daring, you could make an attempt to pick it up. However, I really don't recommend it. Also, on weekdays, they have $0.50 tacos from 1pm to 5pm. You just can't beat that price. The regular price for the 5 taco plate (also comes with drink) is just over $7. For $7 during $0.50 taco time... That would be 14 tacos! I also really like their lengua, which is listed as cebeza (totally different - cebeza means "head"). Lengua is tongue. Usually in California, both is listed. Maybe listing "head" wouldn't make it as popular? I have no idea. But birria, as far as I was told at another Mexican place (but this was in Reno) is goat. And they list that they have that too, however they say that it's shredded beef. I asked about this, and like I suspected, there isn't much of a market for goat around here. Everything I've had so far has been excellent, except for the sope/sopita and the torta (was in like a hamburger type bun). They have a Pollo Asado plate that reminds me of El Pollo Loco, which I grew up eating and absolutely love - but they don't have any here in Washington. So I was excited that at Antojo's they had it. They also have the whole fried fish, I forgot the Mexican name...something Pescado. I'm excited to try that next. While normally, I'd give Antojo's only four stars because of the sope/sopitas and the bun on the torta. But they've turned me on to a new favorite - the gorditas. So because I now am no longer on the hunt for sopes...five stars it is. The place is right of the Bridgeport exit - you can see it immediately as you get off the freeway if you're heading towards the Lakewood Towne Center. It's inexpensive, damn good, give it a try if you are passing by. I passed it by so many times, then regretted not stopping. Then I finally just made a special trip just to go, and boy, am I happy about my decision.
(5)Corinne P.
FINALLY AN AWESOME MEXICAN RESTAURANT with no mystery hair randomly in the middle of the taco. This place is pretty tasty and cheap. You get massive amounts of food and endless basket of chips. The chips are warm and crispy. They have around 5 different self served salsa. The ingredients are fresh and the food comes out very quickly. The only gripe that I have and I won't even knock down a star is the language barrier. If you don't know Spanish at all, you'll have a problem ordering if you are a vegetarian. Here's the layout, one of two friends that were with me is a vegetarian. Of course, she doesn't know how to speak spanish. She ordered an enchilida with no meat, basically all she wanted was cheese in it. Well, the first time the waitress came out, the enchilida had pork and cheese in it. She took it back, explained that she wanted no meat in it. The waitress said no meat, so we thought she understood. It comes out the second time, but it had chicken and no beans on the plate. So we sent it back, now this time our other friend translated into spanish what my other friend wanted. So about 5 minutes later, the manager comes over, and she talked to my linguist. Somehow they didn't understand that my friend wanted no meat what so ever, and I guess couldn't comprehend. Finally, after all of this, the manager said just tell us she's a "veggie". So lesson learned. If you are a vegetarian.. just say you're a veggie.. then anyone who goes here won't have this ordeal. On a positive note, my "veggie" friend loved her meal and she will return to this restaurant and as will I.
(5)Amy B.
I absolutely love this place. It's close to home, and convenient. They do phone in orders as well, which is extremely helpful if your in a hurry, on your way home, or on lunch for work. If you're looking for as close to authentic that you can find up here, then this is the place.
(5)Alan S.
Great tacos. Grew up in Los Angeles, and this is the closest thing to Southern California/ Mexico tacos I've found here. Torta is really good also
(5)R R.
Peh. Went there b/c of the Yelp reviews. The menu on the wall behind the counter is digital, and bounces around. My burrito was lukewarm and cold in spots. They put french fries in the burrito.
(2)Alejandro S.
Authentic Mexican with some unauthentic menu items. All the breakfast burritos have hash browns. The workers aren't too pleasant but it's a place for some decent Mexican food; though I think it is slightly overpriced compared to other taquerias.
(3)Andrew G.
After coming here for three years I'm finally giving them their much need thanks in writing. Everything is always great, affordable, and with a free salsa bar nowhere else compares! Can't wait til next time!
(5)Fly_Gu Y.
Good luck finding a place to park cause the parking lot is tiney tiny. There are probably 12-15 parking slots that are shared amongst the a handful of businesses. I witnessed car after car drive in only to drive off due to nowhere to park. The inside of the restaurant consisted of an ordering counter and small seating area. At first it seemed as if we wouldn't find a place to sit but folks are ordering, eating, and leaving at a constant pace. Truly a revolving door. The food was probably the best Mexican food I've had since moving to the PNW and rivals many of the Mexican places I frequented in AZ. I am not big on Mexican cuisine but when I do eat it, I want it to taste like the food at Taqueria El Antojo. I like this place a lot and will return the next time im in the area and have a hankering for quick Mex. The only thing I will do differently is drive the beater car!
(4)Rusty S.
What a score! Fast, cheap, and AWESOME! This place serves *real* tacos-- the kind you would get in Mexico rather than what you would find at Taco Bell. Along with rice, beans, a small salad, and some stuff (cabbage, carrots, peppers, limes, salsa, etc.) from the fresh salsa bar the marinated pork tacos were the star attraction of a great lunch at a good price: $7.50 w/ tax. Service was pretty quick and the restaurant seemed to be new and clean. Can't wait to come back and try some more of their menu!
(5)Ann L.
Delicious food, reasonable prices, no frills experience. This is a no-waiter, telenovela on in the back, help yourself to chips type of place. It is also clean and the food is tasty and at the right price. 10% discount for military.
(4)Juan and Claudia V.
Yelp Yelp Yelp, especially with the Northwest raters.... we go off of some of the reviews and once again we've been let down. This place is definitely not a 4 1/2 and if you give it more than a 4 then you don't know your tacos or mexican food. Oh well what's 5 for me obviously it would be L.A. or Mexican tacos. The only good thing about these tacos and/or tortas (which we ate) is a lot of meat and variety (not quality) of types of sauces. Their carne asada is good but anything else (we tried pastor and cabeza) is horrible. Horrible. Lengua is nothing special and just ok. Customer service is ok, don't expect much anyways since its a taqueria and YOU SHOULDN'T. The place is not a 'casita' and its more Americanized, we should had figure why it got a big ratings. If you want more 'casita' or better tacos then head down the street to El Sabroso. Or if you want the best and live in Puyallup go to the Taco Bus in Meridian.
(3)Courtney P.
A great find right off i5 when we were hungry and tired of traffic. Tasty tacos and an array of sauces with their salsa bar. A workerant but friendly staff.
(4)Ted S.
Great, authentic Mexican at a very reasonable price. Not only was the food great, but the staff was very friendly and willing to make recommendations. Awesome meal.
(5)Kimberly M.
Went here on a lunch date with a pilot I know from McChord AFB. Its close and its simple. Its good and its cheap.. I had the pollo tacos.. a bit of street taco meats Salvadorian taco. He had a burrito that was larger than my forearm. Hes a big guy and he was full. Of course, go here knowing that if your a military peep, you may know the entire small restaurant of fellow military peeps. Not a bad thing if you are me.. I loved this place. $13 for two meals, sides and drinks. Bam! Into the wild blue yonder..
(5)Evan A.
Good food. Good price.
(4)Phill Y.
Atmosphere 4 Service 4 Food 5 Stumbled on this place when we dropped off I-5 SB in search of a soda. The place is tiny and doesn't look much from the outside. But it's clean and friendly. We wound up with 3 adobada street tacos at $0.60 a piece and a couple of refreshing horchatas. The corn tortillas were fresh and the snack was perfect and got us back on the road really quickly. Tacoma has a gem for tacos!
(4)Chester B.
Good food at good prices. Not as Americanized as some claim, less so than any chain, and not as much as some of the places I visited in Arizona, or even El Paso.
(4)Evan G.
Gone here a couple times. Everything was okay. Nothing really blew me away, but it wasn't bad either. Would go again.
(3)Jen C.
I stumbled upon this gem on my way South and I was quite impressed. The tacos tasted almost like in Mexico. I had cabeza, carnitas, asada and adobada tacos. The tortillas are handmade to order. The salsa bar is very complete. I ate 7 tacos despite my intent to have 3. The place was spotless (but it was morning) and the service was not fast but once we got our food we realized why. We also had a torta de asada. The torta was your average torta. Nothing wrong with it. For the same price you can pick from the soda fountain or horchata, jaimaca or tamarind beverages, which are the classic flavors you find at a taqueria in Mexico. I'm sad we don't have El Antojo in Seattle.
(5)Charles - Darla M.
Sister and I ordered De Mole chicken enchiladas and 5 chicken tacos. The mole sauce is perfect, not too sweet, not too chocolately, thicker, etc. The tacos, just perfect seasoning, not salty, etc. We will def going back there!!! It's located on the corner of Bridgeport Way SW & Pacific Hwy SW in Lakewood at the light.
(5)jerritt c.
Oh heck yeah, another Antojo location. Crazy flat panel digital menus. Why they are investing so much in technology I don't know but it lends a certain legitimacy to the whole enterprise, like the PA system wired up to voice orders back a whole 7 feet to the cooks. This legitimacy taken away from perhaps primarily by the "special" Antojo presents preserved under saran wrap and on the counter for customer inspection. I'm not saying they serve that, but it was suspicious how fast the order came out. Stick to the tacos. Basically I've only had good service and good food at this location and the McKinley one.
(5)George B.
A friend took me here for lunch a few weeks ago and I was extremely impressed. The food was reasonably priced and very authentic. I would suggest this place to everyone who wants good food,
(5)Jonas C.
It's cheap, it's fast, it's good. Endless chips, salsa bar, quality ingredients. I mean, what's not to like? Seriously. I wish there were one closer. And if that doesn't sell you, I have two words: BOTTOMLESS HORCHATA
(5)Kelly S.
Great, authentic food. The owner is from Jalisco and that is my favorite style of Mexican food. They have a great salsa bar! I'm from Texas and it's about time I found decent Mexican food!
(5)Mike K.
The lengua and horchata taste very fresh. Authentic Mexican food at a great price!
(5)Ashley F.
Ok so I gave into all the great reviews about this place and tried it today. We weren't disappointed either. I had the gorditas and I loved them I had them with the spicy pork very yummy. My husband ordered the taco plate which was three tacos ( chicken, reg pork and spicy pork). He said they were all wonderful and full of flavor but his favorite was the spicy pork. The only thing I was disappointed about was the menudo I was really looking forwarded in finding a place on the weekend that made menudo. The broth was flat and didn't have enough of the chile flavor that I love so much about menudo and also they didn't give us hominy in it what a bummer. I will visit this place again I just won't be ordering the menudo anymore.
(4)Tyler D.
By far the best tacos I have had on a long time. I must try for lunch. 50 cent tacos between 2 and 5 Monday thru Thursday.
(5)Michael F.
I've been stationed at McChord (JBLM) for over 10 years and this is some of the best Mexican foot around. They're open until 11:00 pm Sun-Thu and open until midnight Friday and Saturday which makes it very convenient to get quality food late. There is a variety of selection ranging from very authentic Mexican food to what some would consider Mexican-American. Either way, the food is good, the help is friendly, and the hours are great.
(5)Robert A.
I was on vacation in Tacoma and this place is awesome! While coming and going from the place, I encountered several Mexicans/Hispanics... letting me know that this is the place! The food competes with some of the other authentic Mexican food that I've had. They have fresh food and I was watching them make the fresh tortillas for my tacos and burritos. They have chips and a salsa bar that you can raid while you're waiting for your food. They offer free refills and have soda and horchata available. The prices are great, the food is great, and the place is clean. I wish they had locations everywhere I went.
(5)Cynthia R.
This place has great tacos! The other food items are hit and miss. The beans are usually really great, not a fan of the rice. I would recommend going here to eat. A bit on the pricey side. The carne asada is also a winner as long as the beans are good that day. I haven't tried a ton of stuff on their menu. The posole is awesome! As long as I stick to what I know is good here I leave full and very happy. I really wanna try their breakfast.
(4)Brooke M.
MMMMMMM whenever I am craving fast, YUMMY Mexican food, this place is my hook up!! I have had most things on the menu, and I have yet to be disappointed. Service is fast, and courteous. They only lost one star because occasionally when I phone in an order, its hard to tell if they are "getting" what I am ordering. However in the restaurant, the service is excellent and the food is great!!
(4)Frine S.
Fast , delicious food. Better than typical and local sit down restaurants. From the drinks to the salsa bar to the food to the desserts , hands down the best !
(5)Mog V.
I had the Arroz con Pollo (Rice and Chicken). As a Mexican American I have been eating this for years across the country. This is by far, without question, the absolute worst I have ever had. I have never had this dish with the chicken covered in a bland can like tomato sauce. Zero flavor . The salad was still wet mixing with the dressing. I had to wait for the cooked japaleno which was delivered after I had consumed most of the meal. That being said others must like this place as it is filled mostly with young military from Joint Base Lewis McChord. Now Bob (Gringo), my desk mate, in all fairness loves this place and only gets the taco dishes which he claims are what they are truly known for. As for me, I won't return. Hasta la vista.
(1)Michael G.
Good Mexican food and great prices! All you can eat FREE chips and salsa... free refills on horchata! Its good in my book!
(4)Mike C.
I can't tell enough people about this place. If you love REAL mexican food hit this place up. It has all the great mexican flavor of a sit down restaurant but its so fast it should be fast food. Hit it up on the weekends to get pazole or menudo. One of the best I've had!
(5)Jason B.
Very clean restaurant with all you can drink fountain drinks,horchata tamarindo. Excellent salsa bar, handmade tortillas very authentic great tasting food.
(5)Dead M.
Stop in this place for some lunch check the reviews all good food was tasty delicious I will be back. delish!
(4)Ida G.
I had the pozole, which was tasty. My wife had a burrito which was good but was on the salty side...later she felt like she was having an MSG reaction. Not sure if they use it but something to consider if you visit
(3)Carolyn S.
Amazing. Great service, excellent food. They have a well stocked fresh salsa bar, with a great selection. I reccomend grabbing a side or the marinated cabbage, and some onions to throw on your tacos.
(5)Rich P.
Great food! Great prices! Except after you leave and they add another $8 tip to a $9.50 bill. The charge on my debit card was $17 and change... could have been a mistake? If you eat $17 worth of food in this place, you might literally burst. $10 gets you a huge meal and drink, easy.
(2)Chad R.
Best Mexican food I have had in Tacoma. Very authentic. Being from Phoenix I'm used to this kind of fare being offered on every street often the name ending in "to's" as in "Filiberto's' or "Humberto's'. Their tacos are cheap and good. Order them in mass quantities because you will want more. The salsa bar has some great choices and the complimentary chips to go with them are a great addition. After trying a variety of so called "authentic" Mexican restaurants in Tacoma, this is the real deal. If you think "El Toro" is real Mexican food, I feel bad for you. I know that sounds like an elitist point of view but that's how strongly I feel about the subject.
(4)Riley P.
I really am impressed.
(5)Kate A.
Servers were friendly, service was fast and all the meats that i had in my tacos were delicious! I tried lengua for the first time and loved it! Horchata was sweet and rich, like dessert. I'm looking forward to stopping by for their 2-5pm $.50 taco special.
(4)Jew C.
best tacos i've ever had, hands down!
(5)jessica k.
This place has great food, great service. And amazing horchada!!!! Plus the prices are decent and we normally don't wait too long on our to-go orders. :]
(4)Jack H.
A great, small Mexican restaurant with efficient and pleasant staff. Food, as many others have noted, is outstanding, and salsa bar is very nice. This is a simple, clean place that will seem like home by your second or third visit. The only problem I've noticed is limited and sometimes difficult parking, but the food is worth an occasional parking hassle. There is a vacant lot next door you can park in, though its surface is very rough.
(5)