Sarai's Taco Shop

Great food, really nice service so busy sometimes but it's worth. Phone orders available so you don't need to wait on line. Portions are good enough n food always fresh. Best place in lakeside.

The food here SLAPS. Prices are very fair, and they give you a decent amount. Their flour tortilla are absolutely huge, and give Chipotle a run for their money also give you like 3 at a time. You come hungry and leave STUFFED.

Just came here with my daughter and was greeted by the cashier and the cooks. Everyone was very friendly and patient. Food came out quick as well. Very happy with the service! Will be back! Also don’t use lard if that is a dietary restriction.

Burritos are as big as your forearm. Mine must've weighed 3 pounds. Delicious. Carne asada is on point

There are 13 taco shops closer to my house than Sarai's. I drive past 5 of them on my way to this one! Why? Consistency. Any item on the menu, and time of day, is consistently the best I've found within 20 minutes of my house. When you find "the one", you keep coming back. Kitchen staff is friendly, counter staff is fast and accurate. This is where I bring friends and family when they ask for my favorite.

I like my food every time I go there. I get burritos, carnitas, quesadillas and tolled tacos. My husband and rest of my fam loves the ceviche. Their sauce is good too. Food is always hot, always yummy, and just delicious.

We got food for take out. My chili relleno burrito was terrific. Please open a branch near me (Buffalo, NY).

The place was clean and the burrito I ordered was good. I ordered the carne asada burrito and it was on the bigger side and there was plenty of guacamole in there and lots of meat. One thing I do like is that they don’t charge you for the pickled carrots and the salsa tasted good. I usually only eat the green and it was fantastic I did try the red and it tasted really good too. It looks like there is a lot of tortas selection I’ll try that next time.

Wow! Totally unexpected to find a place so clean & such delicious burrito! Wow wow wow,, one of the best burritos ive ever had.

I usually go for a California Burrito or Carne Asada fries when I go to taco shops but the cashier asked if I wanted to try the Supreme Carne Asada Fries and they were stacked!! Meat, cheese, fries, beans, sour cream, guacamole, and salsa fresca/pico de gallo!!! Extremely delicious 😋😋!! I can’t wait to go back! Oh and they use the flat bottom container not the one that has the 2 inlets for sides if you know what I mean so you get a FULL ORDER!!

Came in for a breakfast burrito before my son's football game. I'm glad I decided to come in. The woman behind the counter was very friendly and welcoming. I ordered a chorizo burrito with potato and cheese added. The burrito was HUGE. Easily the largest burrito I've had in a long time. The flavor of the chorizo was good. If I'm ever in the area I'll definitely come back. My husband wants to go back after the game for lunch! Haha

I've had a few different items from this place now and have to say the Bacon Potato Breakfast Burritos are amazing. One thing lacking with this place is a web site with their menu. I decided to help them out and scan in their menu. The only other menu was blurry.

Nezar Ilaian

Wow! Totally unexpected to find a place so clean & such delicious burrito! Wow wow wow,, one of the best burritos ive ever had.

Jay Hughes

I usually go for a California Burrito or Carne Asada fries when I go to taco shops but the cashier asked if I wanted to try the Supreme Carne Asada Fries and they were stacked!! Meat, cheese, fries, beans, sour cream, guacamole, and salsa fresca/pico de gallo!!! Extremely delicious 😋😋!! I can’t wait to go back! Oh and they use the flat bottom container not the one that has the 2 inlets for sides if you know what I mean so you get a FULL ORDER!!

Elena McLeod

Came in for a breakfast burrito before my son's football game. I'm glad I decided to come in. The woman behind the counter was very friendly and welcoming. I ordered a chorizo burrito with potato and cheese added. The burrito was HUGE. Easily the largest burrito I've had in a long time. The flavor of the chorizo was good. If I'm ever in the area I'll definitely come back. My husband wants to go back after the game for lunch! Haha

Matthew Lowrey

I've had a few different items from this place now and have to say the Bacon Potato Breakfast Burritos are amazing. One thing lacking with this place is a web site with their menu. I decided to help them out and scan in their menu. The only other menu was blurry.

Best taco shop in lakeside and Santee! I have gotten the California burrito and machaca plate the most there. If you go to their website you can order online for pick up which is super convenient (no drive through). I give the atmosphere a 3 star because there are a lot of homeless in this shopping center and it just looks very old.

Absolutely 💯 love this place. From burritos to menudo, always taste great!

I love getting carne asada fries from here. The lady cashier is fantastic and I always appreciate it when she takes my order. I was hesitant to get Mexican food from Lakeside but Sarai's turned me into a believer, so now I come here exclusively for my CAF. Highly recommend!!

Good ol' authentic Mexican taco shop, open late. ✨ I really enjoyed the California burrito (I asked for added bacon), it was HUGE and lasted me 3 meals! Very delicious. I hung out there with a friend of mine, we chatted for a few hours and accidentally lasted a little longer than closing time, but the workers were very chill and respectful and didn't kick us out. We wanted to respect their time so we eventually left, but they were very caring and welcoming, definitely recommend this place. I love it when taco shops like this play authentic Mexican music in the back and the workers are singing along 😄

I got the Adobada burrito and it was BOMB. The flavor and texture along with the red sauce was the perfect amount of heat and flavor. Man, I have been craving good MX food. I moved to AZ from NORCAL and in a year I haven't found a place out there as good as Sarais.

Kellie Cain

Absolutely 💯 love this place. From burritos to menudo, always taste great!

Hugo Lino

I love getting carne asada fries from here. The lady cashier is fantastic and I always appreciate it when she takes my order. I was hesitant to get Mexican food from Lakeside but Sarai's turned me into a believer, so now I come here exclusively for my CAF. Highly recommend!!

Angelina

I got the Adobada burrito and it was BOMB. The flavor and texture along with the red sauce was the perfect amount of heat and flavor. Man, I have been craving good MX food. I moved to AZ from NORCAL and in a year I haven't found a place out there as good as Sarais.

Amber Morales

Best taco shop in lakeside and Santee! I have gotten the California burrito and machaca plate the most there. If you go to their website you can order online for pick up which is super convenient (no drive through). I give the atmosphere a 3 star because there are a lot of homeless in this shopping center and it just looks very old.

Ileana Rosas

Good ol' authentic Mexican taco shop, open late. ✨ I really enjoyed the California burrito (I asked for added bacon), it was HUGE and lasted me 3 meals! Very delicious. I hung out there with a friend of mine, we chatted for a few hours and accidentally lasted a little longer than closing time, but the workers were very chill and respectful and didn't kick us out. We wanted to respect their time so we eventually left, but they were very caring and welcoming, definitely recommend this place. I love it when taco shops like this play authentic Mexican music in the back and the workers are singing along 😄

Decent tasting food. The California burrito was good

Well I don't talk to eat at the shop so I have no baseline about this company to compare with. Me and the person I was with we were helped fairly quickly. The food was made right them in there when we ordered it as a lot of Mexican food places do. The guy I was eating with stated he thought the burrito show was a little bit overcooked, but I ordered the chorizo and egg burrito with cheese added, and to me it felt fine felt good. The red sauce was not as hot or flavor bowl as other Mexican food places have. Prices for two burritos came to about $18. The dining room was clean and well presentable. I don't like the fact that Trump was on TV but that's not really something to store has control over. All in all I would probably consider going there again if I'm in the area.

Not the cutest place in the world but fast friendly service and large portions. Their California burrito with French fries inside is a favorite. The quesadillas are packed with loads of cheese. Its always good food there. You can also call in your order and they'll have it ready when you get there.

Got a bacon and potato breakfast burrito. First bit was 90% cheese. I would recommend substituting French fries for the potatoes. They were super mushy (more like mashed potatoes) and kinda ruined it. Red and green salsa were decent. I would definitely come back and try something different. Definitely had all the right taco shop vibes.

Quick and friendly local taco shop. Pollo Asado Quesadilla was my initial order. Many customers.

Carna asada meat is hit and miss. Sometimes is fresh and juicy, but sometimes its plain and dry. Carna asada fries are awesome but again hit and miss!🤔 beware alot of homeless village to the right of the shop.

Tysen Hill

Got a bacon and potato breakfast burrito. First bit was 90% cheese. I would recommend substituting French fries for the potatoes. They were super mushy (more like mashed potatoes) and kinda ruined it. Red and green salsa were decent. I would definitely come back and try something different. Definitely had all the right taco shop vibes.

Kevin Parker

Quick and friendly local taco shop. Pollo Asado Quesadilla was my initial order. Many customers.

Frank Vang

Carna asada meat is hit and miss. Sometimes is fresh and juicy, but sometimes its plain and dry. Carna asada fries are awesome but again hit and miss!🤔 beware alot of homeless village to the right of the shop.

Would be 5 stars if they opened when they said they would every day. Their Chef is on point, always great food, good big burritos, and he’s always there on time. The girl at the register is late often and they don’t open when they say online and on their door because of this.

Decent prices, portions, and the food is pretty good.

Jake Zulauf

Would be 5 stars if they opened when they said they would every day. Their Chef is on point, always great food, good big burritos, and he’s always there on time. The girl at the register is late often and they don’t open when they say online and on their door because of this.

Prices have went up and quantity has gone down. Been going here for years. Use to be my favorite taco shop in town. Im speaking on the California Burrito specifically here. Time after time the burritos lack meat. And end up being heavy on sour cream, guacamole, or just a mouthful of tortilla. Whole way through burrito. Over $9 dollars for a less then satisfying Burrito. There are fuller more consistent and better priced shops in any direction of here. I would suggest trying one of those establishments.

Well I love the food! However on the way home from a trip I ordered a plate! The women taking order thought I ordered two plates! She said she asked! So I did pay and gave two twenty dollar bills and took back a ten! She only gave me change for 30 and swore I had only given a ten and a twenty! I double checked and NO!! She made me pay for extra meal! OK but ripping off an extra ten and lying about it??? I won’t go back

Good food but wrong pricing. Actual prices are half as much.

adan contreras

Good food but wrong pricing. Actual prices are half as much.

I ate here today being told by 2 good friends how great this place was. Before going I read the online reviews. I almost didn't order after reading about the attitude of the woman who worked there, but I've been sick and wanted a good burrito. I called and the woman answered. She was not rude at all. I asked for a breakfast burrito, and never having eaten there, didn't know what they offered. She told me every type they had, and still was not rude. I ordered a sausage, egg, potato, and cheese burrito. It was not very good. I could barely taste the sausage, the eggs were so crumbled into small pieces they kept falling out, and the overall flavor was meh. I would try this place again and try their actual mexican food, don't want to judge them entirely on their breakfast. The burrito was huge though, I was surprised by it's size.

I called my order in. I arrived 15 minutes later to pick it up. They said I didn’t call them. I know better. I’ve called them before! But no biggie, I asked if they would prepare my $35 order anyway. Wow! You would have thought I was really over-askingI thought everyone was struggling to stay in business and maybe shopping local would be appreciated. It wasn’t. I asked, “do you want to make my order or would it be better for you if I went somewhere else?” She said that would probably be better. So I left. My family will be finding more appreciative local businesses to support.

26$ for 2 California burritos it was more tortilla then meat cheese and fries quality went down hill. At least measure your portions awfull won't come back again .

I have eaten at this restaurant for years, but lately it’s just gone really bad. Final straw, tonight I ordered by phone got there 20 minutes later food was not even started. The lady at the counter handed me an order and I paid for it, look at receipt, not even the right food, she tried giving me back my original money but shorted me 5 bucks, then when I got my order it was wrong. This used to be a great place but now it suck, and the food is not good or just wrong

I hate to say this because the staff is really friendly, but the food I ordered was not good. 1. I found a used toothpick in one of the Flautas I ordered (gross) 2. Both the Flautas and Rolled Tacos have very little meat in them, especially when compared to the competition. It is what it is. I would've considered going back for another try at different items on the menu, but the used toothpick in my Flauta was just too much.

i go to echs and the lady working the shop was rude, was blowing me off, and when trying to use the discount card you pay for as a el capitan student yearly i was told that “they were old” and “didn’t do those anymore” when other students have occasionally been able to.

I always come here and I love this place.ever since I moved into lakeside about two years ago, I come here often and the lady's even know my order today I experienced the worst service and I'm kinda shocked the owner was so rude. I've had encounters with him before and he was always so nice. my order was incorrect I simply asked them to fix it he refused so I took the whole plate back and I simply asked for my money back he refused it and then wanted me to pay more then continued to yell at my boyfriend telling him never to come back again no hate just think they should of token care of it in a better manner!! I will continue to eat here just hope it never happens again as this is one of my favorite places!!

The cali burrito is very tiny and the meat is below average. They got our order wrong and the tortillas on the tacos were stale/hard. I recommend los ranchitos off El Monte rd instead . Cali burritos are giant compared to this puny thing and the meat is tender and flavorful. This will be my last time here.

Now before you people dismiss my one star review, this isn’t my first time witnessing what I observed today. I was a regular but tonight they lost a customer. I walked in today and noticed that they were cleaning, I asked if they were still open and they said yes so I ordered a California Burrito. I am a very observant person and I was watching the cook the entire time. This man not once washed his hands to cook my food, he continued to clean (holding a broom and touching and grabbing other things as he cooked and touched my food). I witnessed this a couple months ago as well and it was the same cook, but I didn’t dwell on it. I personally find it very disrespectful and it’s disgusting. Well anyways I got my burrito and I contemplated about eating it, I didn’t want to say anything because I’m too nice of a person and didn’t want to deal with that tonight. I decided to take a bite and it was the worst cali burrito I have ever tasted. First off the burrito was way smaller than usual, the little amount of meat in the burrito was like beef jerky, the fries tasted horrible and weren’t even hot, and on top of all that the tortilla was cold. I will never buy food from Sarais ever again. Somebody has to tell that cook how to properly handle food and how to cook. If you still want to eat there, I recommend going earlier in the day and not at night… but then again I personally will never go there again, and I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone. Tell that man not to multitask when he’s cooking, and tell him to wash his dang hands before he cooks. So if you like your food being handled in an unsanitary manner, Sarais is the spot you should go to.

The lady at the cashier was very rude. The chilli relleno was disgusting and too expensive. The red rice was like eating little rocks. I told the cashier that the red rice was uncooked and she didn't budge to help me out or give me fresh rice. If I can give this place no stars it deserves no stars

This was the worst excuse for Mexican food that I’ve ever had in my life. It was so disgusting. I took two bites too small bite because it smelt weird The place look like a hole in the wall and the food tasted like something from the sewer. It was so disgusting I do not recommend anyone ever going here. I wish I could leave no stars at all. There should be a D+ in the window maybe an F it was that bad. What a waste of 48 dollars. Expensive for no reason. 💔😒😡🫥🙄😑. It lowkey tastes like flesh wounds.

Almost everytime my order is wrong. Food is never made the same. Food orders are never made consistently. Hardly anyone understands or can speak good English.

Chris Ramirez

The lady at the cashier was very rude. The chilli relleno was disgusting and too expensive. The red rice was like eating little rocks. I told the cashier that the red rice was uncooked and she didn't budge to help me out or give me fresh rice. If I can give this place no stars it deserves no stars

Luna Perez

Now before you people dismiss my one star review, this isn’t my first time witnessing what I observed today. I was a regular but tonight they lost a customer. I walked in today and noticed that they were cleaning, I asked if they were still open and they said yes so I ordered a California Burrito. I am a very observant person and I was watching the cook the entire time. This man not once washed his hands to cook my food, he continued to clean (holding a broom and touching and grabbing other things as he cooked and touched my food). I witnessed this a couple months ago as well and it was the same cook, but I didn’t dwell on it. I personally find it very disrespectful and it’s disgusting. Well anyways I got my burrito and I contemplated about eating it, I didn’t want to say anything because I’m too nice of a person and didn’t want to deal with that tonight. I decided to take a bite and it was the worst cali burrito I have ever tasted. First off the burrito was way smaller than usual, the little amount of meat in the burrito was like beef jerky, the fries tasted horrible and weren’t even hot, and on top of all that the tortilla was cold. I will never buy food from Sarais ever again. Somebody has to tell that cook how to properly handle food and how to cook. If you still want to eat there, I recommend going earlier in the day and not at night… but then again I personally will never go there again, and I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone. Tell that man not to multitask when he’s cooking, and tell him to wash his dang hands before he cooks. So if you like your food being handled in an unsanitary manner, Sarais is the spot you should go to.

Myron Buffkin

Almost everytime my order is wrong. Food is never made the same. Food orders are never made consistently. Hardly anyone understands or can speak good English.

Ava Dent

This was the worst excuse for Mexican food that I’ve ever had in my life. It was so disgusting. I took two bites too small bite because it smelt weird The place look like a hole in the wall and the food tasted like something from the sewer. It was so disgusting I do not recommend anyone ever going here. I wish I could leave no stars at all. There should be a D+ in the window maybe an F it was that bad. What a waste of 48 dollars. Expensive for no reason. 💔😒😡🫥🙄😑. It lowkey tastes like flesh wounds.

eric quirarte

The cali burrito is very tiny and the meat is below average. They got our order wrong and the tortillas on the tacos were stale/hard. I recommend los ranchitos off El Monte rd instead . Cali burritos are giant compared to this puny thing and the meat is tender and flavorful. This will be my last time here.

kevin dodd

I have eaten at this restaurant for years, but lately it’s just gone really bad. Final straw, tonight I ordered by phone got there 20 minutes later food was not even started. The lady at the counter handed me an order and I paid for it, look at receipt, not even the right food, she tried giving me back my original money but shorted me 5 bucks, then when I got my order it was wrong. This used to be a great place but now it suck, and the food is not good or just wrong