14 Best Taco Restaurants in Pasadena

“Every time you walk into this restaurant, the vibe is absolutely amazing. The atmosphere is always fresh and full of energy thanks to the music one visit might be old school hip-hop and R&B, the next you’ll hear country, Banda, or even modern pop and house. It keeps things exciting and makes every experience feel unique.
But the real star here? The specialty tacos. Hands down, some of the best in Southern California. They’re packed with flavor, made with care, and honestly set a new standard for what tacos should taste like. The quality is consistent, and no matter what you order, you’re going to be impressed.
On top of that, the pricing is unbeatable for SoCal. You get top-tier food and an atmosphere that makes you want to keep coming back without breaking the bank. It’s rare to find a place that nails both the food and the vibe, but this restaurant does it effortlessly.
If you’re looking for a spot that combines amazing food, unbeatable tacos, and an always-fun atmosphere, this is it.“

“Hands down, the best taco truck in Pasadena! Established in 1979, Los California Tacos has perfected the art of tacos with their flavorful, fresh, and non-greasy offerings. The service is friendly and fast, making it a go-to spot for taco enthusiasts. Their al pastor and chicken tacos are particularly popular among regulars. Don't miss out on this local favorite!“

“We found ourselves facing an uphill battle on New Years Day, Rose Bowl Parade, no where open, raining, morale was at an all time low.

Walking down the road we stumbled upon Guisados. BOOM saved the day. Elite breakfast burritos, elite service, and some of the most pristine/fresh limes I’ve ever seen in my days.

Modelos on deck as well. What a time. What an establishment.“

“The best barbacoa!“

“Excellent service, great food, special price !!“

“We drive 35 miles at least three times a month to eat here. We love Home State and as a Native Texan, I can attest that their queso is the real deal!!! I just wish they'd open one in Claremont, CA!!! The Don't Mess With Texas is my favorite taco and my husband loves the brisket taco. Everything is amazing though!!!“

“Visiting Pasadena for a gaming convention and Grabbed some late night Al pastor and also some chicken and potatoes tacos and with their salsas…. It is heaven. Doin’ it right, here in Pasadena at Colorado and Altadena“

“Hola buenas tardes, para agradecerles su donativo en especie de las 10 cajas de pañales y las toallitas húmedas, Dios les bendiga grandemente primeramente en sus vidas y en su negocio. Reciban nuestras oraciones desde la Casa de Descanso del Anciano de Poncitlán.“

“Amazing birria tacos 😍🌮 came in at around 9pm and I also got a Cantarito. Soooo good. The consomé is also really good. The queso birria tacos are $3.50 & the consomé is $3. Really great price. The Cantarito was $15 but it was really good. I had it with Mezcal 🍹I took the food to go and even though I ate about an hour after I got them, they were still really good. No soggy tortillas 😆 overall 5/5 ⭐! Great service, too! Thank you so much! 🙏“

“I don’t like how Google makes you rate atmosphere for food trucks—like seriously? Anyway, I’ve always ordered one thing here, which is the California Burrito. Highly recommended. I’ve ordered it with carne asada and lengua, and I can tell the meat has been marinated or at least flavored.

rturo Taco Truck

My wife is a pretty good cook. She’s not a chef, but she’s a natural in the kitchen; she can watch some random YouTube/instagram clip and somehow reproduce it (or something very similar). Best of all, she makes sure I have enough protein/vegetables/etc. everyday.

Oh. Sorry. We’re here about Arturo’s truck:
1. They have always provided high quality food
2. They have great (self-serve) condiments
3. Generous and ample meat on their tacos and in their burritos
4. Legit salsa and guacamole sauce (not green salsa and expect a smooth, savory sauce)
5. Ask for extra crispy fries in the Cali burrito (be prepared to wait a little longer, but they will definitely make the fries more crispy)
Don’t be surprised to see me there on a random night multiple times a week.“

“Amazing Tacos and Tortas.
Every time I come here the batch tastes a little different for the salsas and extras, but I feel like it’s always good and allows it to be different in a good way every time.

I get the pastor tacos and asada tortas.“

“First time here. I just wanted a quick bite to eat before work so I ordered 3 carne asada tacos.
Staff was super friendly and welcoming.
Music wasn’t too loud and the place was super clean. I felt relaxed eating there and the tacos hit the spot. Will be back again.“

“My free shrimp skewer was honored because I put the app on but my senior discount and or promo (gameday2025) 30% off total bill wasn't honored. The food was delicious. Chris was helpful with our order on the kiosk. My family visited from Conneticut and I was hoping the promo was honored.“

“The food is ALWAYS delicious However the ladies that work the register that don’t understand English make it harder than it has to be to order food....other than that any time I’m down in Pasadena (I live in Palmdale) I stop there before coming home Because even if my order is messed up the food is still good“