30 Best Mexican Restaurants in El Monte

“I visited this restaurant once and had a pleasant experience. However, since then, every time I've attempted to return, it's been closed. I have tried going at different times of the day and different days but I haven't had any luck.“

“# 129 Review for 2024 ***A Culinary Journey: Authenticity, Tradition, and Flavor Explosion at Tacos Los Palomos*** Overall 5 Stars***** If there's a sacred haven for taco enthusiasts, Tacos Los Palomos is it. Nestled in East LA, this gem embodies the essence of Mexican street food culture. As a self-proclaimed taco inspector, stumbling upon this treasure was a stroke of luck, unraveling a tapestry of flavors that transported me to the heart of culinary authenticity. What sets these taco trucks apart is their unwavering commitment to tradition. It's not just about tacos; it's a testament to preserving heritage, using time-honored recipes and seasonings that make each bite an homage to Mexican street cuisine. The sheer variety of flavors--Lengua, Buche, Tripa, Suadero, and Cueritos--each bursting with its own distinct taste, left an indelible mark on my taste buds. But let's talk about the salsa, specifically the chipotle; it deserves its own accolades. It's not just a condiment; it's a flavor symphony that elevates every taco to a divine experience. Yet, beyond the culinary prowess, these taco trucks serve as a conduit to nostalgia and cultural roots. They transcend the realm of mere dining; they're gateways to cherished memories and a taste of home. Each bite feels like a reunion with flavors that resonate with a deep sense of belonging. Tacos Los Palomos isn't just a taco truck; it's an emblem of community, tradition, and an odyssey through the rich tapestry of Mexican culinary heritage. In a world where authenticity often gets diluted, this place stands tall as a beacon of genuine flavors and cultural significance. In short, if you seek not just a meal but an expedition into the soul of Mexican street cuisine, Tacos Los Palomos deserves not just five stars but a standing ovation for keeping the flame of tradition alive in every savory taco they serve.“

“A friend highly recommend this place. I went for the first time around 4 pm. on a Wednesday afternoon. There was no waiting and a small family eating there. I ordered to go a plate with two burritos with green sauce, beans, and some lettuce and tomatoes. And a burritos quesadilla. The plate was OK, I'm not sure if the lettuce and tomatoes were a topping or an actual salad. If it was a salad, there was no dressing included. The food was okay but expensive for what we got. They only included one salsa for the quesadilla. I can say it was great but decent. I probably won't return for a long time.Parking: There is parking in front of the business.Kid-friendliness: It's a good family environment.“

“Best super fries you can get! Just went in the drive through and the man that took my order was awsome made me laugh! He was very helpful and made my drive through experience fun made my night thank you so much for good food and good vibes this is why I always go to this location thank you so much. ?Vegetarian options: Bean and cheese burrito, super fries with no meat and much more“

“Love love love the cucadachaShrimp ....I'm sure I misspelled but all their shrimp are bomb and shrimp cocktails as well. My only complaint is Please UPDATE your online menu .....I ordered for my company and WOW we went off of the listed prices on menu on websiteDefinitely not updated , and increased by 2 to 3 dollars , I understand things are going up but then I as a customer should be able to count on the business to keep me updated on NEW PRICES , because your food is delicious ? people will still pay but kinda unfair to have that surprise when u get the final bill and it's 50 bucks more then calculated from online prices .Just a friendly suggestion, I love to refer people . Also small tacos not worth the price at all“

“You dine here and you wonder "Wow, I wish I knew about this place a long, long time ago." It is a treasure of the San Gabriel Valley. I believe it is family owned and operated.Parking: Easy, open air parking. Never crowded.Kid-friendliness: Kids have always been well behaved and appeared to enjoy looking at the aircraft take-offs and landings.Wheelchair accessibility: Extremely wheelchair accessible. Front doors are automatic doors with a handicap button.“

“Top tier tacos!!! Hands down some of the best tacos I’ve ever had in my life. I got pescado, camarones, and carne asada and all three were the bomb. Definitely stopping any time I’m in the area. Some of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet too. Mad love!!!“

“the food was delicious, they recommend that I try the asada burrito and they did not disappoint. They had offered rice to add to my burrito and the food came out delicious. Their sauces were aIso perfect for my burrito, i enjoyed all three. i love that you can see them make the food and they have great service. definitely will be visiting again!“

“We decided to go to Cafe Tizon today. The owner, Maria is our neighbor . Besides we were craving to try a new Mexican restaurant. My honey decided to try the menudo. I tried the chicken enchiladas.Both were really good. Also we purchased two dozen of the pork tamales too.We are coming back to try their costillo (sp?) and burritos.I would recommend this place.“

“First time here. Mom wanted green chicken enchiladas. Was not disappointed! Loaded with chicken and salsa....the chicken was moist and tender, green sauce was deeeeelish! The rice and beans were average. Decor was cute, Martin was very hospitable and nice...going back to see about the pozole!“

“Came here for dinner with friends people last weekend. Food was good service couldve been better. Im allergic to raspberries and blackberries thus I always tell the waiter waitress before I order anything. Tell me why I ordered a seafood dish and the place it on the other side Im sitting at a corner and lo and behold theres blackberries on top of it. So in my head I didnt think it was my order. Also of friend in the group has special dietary restrictions. She ordered their veggie rice it took forever to come. Every one got their tacos and ceviches ate it all before her rice even came out. She also ordered their fried cauliflower that never made it out. Waiter didnt mention anything until we asked for it a third time and said they were out of it since people rarely order it. I doubt Ill be coming back.“

“I hardly ever consider to even write a review but I knew this place deserved it because of the delicious tacos they served. I got 3 tacos one of each meat they offered, asada, pastor, and pollo. Super tasty, well seasoned, and the best part is you definitely get your money's worth of meat. The taco was loaded with the meat and I was basically full from the 3 tacos. The taco tortilla was a little too soft and soggy for my taste, I prefer a crispier and dryer (not super dry) taco shell. Give the tacos a try!“

“I LOVE EL TACO MAN!!! The food is to live for ! It’s delicious!!!! El Taco Man in El Monte is a culinary treasure that deserves every bit of praise it receives. From the moment you step inside, you're transported to a world of authentic Mexican flavors and friendly hospitality. The tostadas, in particular, are an absolute must-try, with their perfect balance of textures and exquisite taste. But don't stop there—explore the entire menu and savor a wide array of mouthwatering dishes. El Taco Man is a true delight for the senses and an experience that will leave you craving more. ?? I will forever eat there ! Yum yum yummy for your tummy“

“Favorite taco spot, tried many other ones but you can tell they care about the quality of food they serve. They just close earlier than what their hours say so sometimes it's unconvienant. But I guess I could've called before going.“

“Old school diner in the downtown strip of El Monte. I got the steak and eggs plate for $20.00 and it was delicious . This place is so cute and the staff that work here are exceptionally friendly . I'll have to visit more often as it's a great value and wonderful people who work here !!!!“

“It was my first time visiting this little small gem ! I haven't had a torta Ahogada since I was in GDL. I must say it was pretty good . I will visit again and try something else. Customer service was good too . Champurrado was good too!“

“My wife and I came here on a Saturday night and there were maybe about 3 other tables occupied. There was live music which was great. We didn't see anyone working so we sat ourselves in a booth and patiently waited for someone to take our order. Ended up ordering the botana la palma and ceviche de pescado. About 5-10 minutes later we were informed there were no more fish for the ceviche, so we decided to go with shrimp instead. The service was a bit slow or non existent. Maybe because the restaurant was hosting a paint&sip on the other side and required the waitress' attention. Nonetheless the food was amazing! Seafood tasted fresh and full of flavor. Where it went a bit wrong was when we got our bill. I typically just double the tax for a 20% tip, but didn't realize until afterwards that 1. The tax was off and 2. We got the wrong bill. The botana la palma was $25 and ceviche i believe was around $19, but was charged $25 for sashimi de atun azul. The tax was only $2.49 so our tip was unfortunately lower than intended (sorry, I was tipsy). My fault for not checking, but I was in a rush. Overall, would definitely come back, but will double check my bill.“

“Great customer service from cashier clerk to the men on the counter. Great selection of food. From sandwiches to all your favorite beef and pork cuts. Great deals on food. Ramen birria, carnitas, menudo, and great salsas. The cGuaca salsa is to die for. The red sauce is good too. Establishment is very welcoming. Great music on the speakers. Thanks Leon for the delicious carne Asada. Hands down my favorite in El Monte.“

“A little restaurant over in El Monte. Came over for a carne asada but decided I'd love to try a sope so I went with a Jr carne asada burrito. Great choice as it was the size of a regular burrito. Like many burritos with all the fixings, it was a little uneven more meat on one end and more rice on the other. Not a big deal for me because all the ingredients were delicious. The carne asada was rich in flavor as it was perfectly seasoned. The sope had a bit too much lettuce, but the same delicious carne asada. I'm usually a green chili man, but the red one was so good. Pricing is about the same as most other places. I'd definitely recommend it as it hits the spot.“

“We were looking for a late night snack, and this place hit the spot! I ordered the pastor and cabeza tacos for to go with no cilantro, onions only. My two tacos were wrapped and kept warm in a foil package.When I got back, I realized they gave me chorizo and buche, and a lot of cilantro. I removed the cilantro, not a big deal. The chorizo, at least I think it was chorizo, wasn't too dry and it was flavorful. There were also chunks of fat (?) in it. The buche was salty...and tasted like buche. I liked their salsas and felt it complemented the meats well.Unfortunately I didn't get either of the meats I wanted to try. At $2.50 per taco, I guess I'll just have to go back to order them again.“

“Saturday and Sunday buffet it's a great deal beside the delicious food on the buffet for 21.50 includes the drink of your choice really a great place for your dollar and the staff is so friendly and helpful I guarantee that once you try it you will come back it's literally home cooking and more highly recommended“

“My taco cravings lead me here to El Rancho. Meats are nice and juicy, though chorizo is somewhat greasier. My dad enjoys their menudo a lot. Would recommend placing a phone order ahead of time if you plan to do take out. Parking is a bit small and difficult to find if you come at a time when lots are dining in. They kept their patio dining in the parking area.“

“Amazing local market that is bigger than it looks. The meats and produce are fresh and delicious. The fresh tortilla chips come in a resealable bag, which is a great idea, not that they will last long at my house. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful.“

“I consider myself a bit of a carne asada burrito connoisseur, and I can say without hesitation that this is one of the best I have ever had. The tortilla was fresh, and the meat was flavorful with absolutely zero gristle. I only wish this place was closer to my house.“

“Delicious and authentic Mexican food. I had the Tomatillo chile with costillas. The meat was very tender, and although chile was a bit more spicy than I liked, the homemade corn tortillas really balanced it out. It was served with delicious rice and beans... I'm definitely going to come back to try other dishes on the menu. Give it a try... You won't be disappointed!!“

“This place had everything I asked for that most restaurants don’t.For starters they had papas rancheras (country potatoes) the way I like them small cubed no skin, and with actual vegetables you can see.They had queso fresco and a very large portion at that. A pretty hot, hot sauce (I’m the devil when it comes to hot sauce)I ordered all that and two eggs over easy with frijoles a cub of coffee and I’m so happy ?DownsideNO HANDMADE TORTILLAS AND NO MOLCAJETE SALSA ? $19.55 my total, should of been more like around $4 eggs + $4 potatoes and beans + $2 queso fresco and $3 coffee plus tax $15-$17 would of been more fair.Because of this I wouldn’t go out of my way to come back but certainly will if in the area, so I can try another dish.“

“This place is legit, I live in west covina and I order takeout at least once a week. (yes I drive all the way to El Monte lol)The food taste great, I have been to mexico and the food is the closest you can get in the SGV, more specifically those damn tortas!!!The service is good obviously sometimes they seem like they would rather be at home or whatever lmao but for me its no big deal. Parking is decent the seating is spacious and the food comes out in a reasonable amount of time.“

“I finally found my go to place ! Keep up the good work I recommend your restaurant when people ask, So you know of a good Mexican restaurant around here ? I direct them to LAS ISLAS MARÍAS RESTAURANT ! The food was so good ! Closest Real Authentic Food ! So tasty ! Great atmosphere too ! Will definitely be back soon And again n again....... See you soon ! ! !“

“Love the food and margaritas but the standout was the service! After accidentally leaving something behind, I arranged for an Uber to collect it. Richard generously made the effort to bring it directly to the driver's car. His extra effort is deeply appreciated!!“

“All ways looking for a good breakfast burrito. Have to say Brother breakfast burrito are good. I had bacon and sausage burrito, the prefect amount of meats, potatoes , egg was not over cook . All good .This is a small family restaurant. Breakfast and dinner are all good . Prices are far .Great Service.“