Taco Grande

I've been eating here for longer than I'm going to tell you. ; ) The portions have diminished over the years, but not the quality. For the most part. I love the crispy tacos, I love the enchiladas, I love their rice. The rice use to have a lot more flavor, it was SO good. Now it's just okay. You use to get a lot of chips when ordering to go. Now, you get about 10. 10 chips. Sad. 😳 This is a great little local place, close to Rincon, which is how I stumbled across it. Rincon is a major surfing beach right down the road. Nothing like tacos and beer after being out in the water....

The burritos at this joint never fail I've been working out here for about two months and this has been my go-to place so far! The Cali burrito is really good specially since the fries are not soggy like most places. The diablo😈 sauce is bomb! Best place in this area!

Most taco places have chicken for tacos, buy Taco Grande makes a great Grilled Chicken Crunchy Shelled Taco that is a meal in itself. 2 is good for most. I order 2 for there and 2 more to take home. They are that good!

The service and food are awesome!! The portions are large. The chips and salsa are so yummy, too!! We will definitely be back!!

You can still get a good meal for 9.99. I appreciate businesses that don't overcharge. My breakfast is so big, I will have leftovers for lunch. I ask for the "machaca" plate and I got beans, country potatoes, guacamole and lots of "Machaca" (shredded dry beef with scrambled eggs). Food is really good and coffee is only 1.99. Love the food at this place.

Very good Mexican food, fresh, affordable and nice service

Legitimately excellent burritos. Had a bean and cheese and a regular chile relleno burrito. Both were excellent. Salsa was also very good. Looks like a normal mild restaurant red salsa (think what you get with chips and salsa) but has a surprising kick to it.

Great Mexican menu. Large meals and plates. The soft tacos aren't of the small variety. They are a hefty size. The plates are large and tasty. Enchiladas and soft tacos Al Pastor are excellent choices. Also the to go get special packaging. Not styrofoam because when cutting through food it goes through it. They use high grade plastic. Or you can stay and eat. Good seating and TV's.

Legit hole in the wall little Mexican food.. loved it

The chorizo breakfast burrito is amazing!!!! They sell beer too.

Rayshaun Grimes

Most taco places have chicken for tacos, buy Taco Grande makes a great Grilled Chicken Crunchy Shelled Taco that is a meal in itself. 2 is good for most. I order 2 for there and 2 more to take home. They are that good!

Melissa Cure

The service and food are awesome!! The portions are large. The chips and salsa are so yummy, too!! We will definitely be back!!

ME AC

You can still get a good meal for 9.99. I appreciate businesses that don't overcharge. My breakfast is so big, I will have leftovers for lunch. I ask for the "machaca" plate and I got beans, country potatoes, guacamole and lots of "Machaca" (shredded dry beef with scrambled eggs). Food is really good and coffee is only 1.99. Love the food at this place.

Tiffany Jiaxin Huang

Very good Mexican food, fresh, affordable and nice service

Ryan Ausanka-Crues

Legitimately excellent burritos. Had a bean and cheese and a regular chile relleno burrito. Both were excellent. Salsa was also very good. Looks like a normal mild restaurant red salsa (think what you get with chips and salsa) but has a surprising kick to it.

F R

Great Mexican menu. Large meals and plates. The soft tacos aren't of the small variety. They are a hefty size. The plates are large and tasty. Enchiladas and soft tacos Al Pastor are excellent choices. Also the to go get special packaging. Not styrofoam because when cutting through food it goes through it. They use high grade plastic. Or you can stay and eat. Good seating and TV's.

Liz and John Mark

Legit hole in the wall little Mexican food.. loved it

Rafael Sant'Anna

The chorizo breakfast burrito is amazing!!!! They sell beer too.

The food here never disappoints. I’ve been eating here for decades and the quality is always top notch. The jumbo burrito is a classic; super delicious. Their homemade salsa is outstanding. But, the Chile relleno burrito is just so amazing!

Greg Hoon

The food here never disappoints. I’ve been eating here for decades and the quality is always top notch. The jumbo burrito is a classic; super delicious. Their homemade salsa is outstanding. But, the Chile relleno burrito is just so amazing!

I like this place it was a lot more authentic than the name suggests. The burritos were huge. I would recommend this place for sure. The only downside was they didn't have a salsa bar but they did provide free chips and salsa.

Good address in Carpinteria to have traditional mexican food at a low budget. The restaurant itself has nothing special, but food, I had A Taco salad with pastor meat, and people are nice.

Food was pretty good, little under seasoned for my taste. Portions were great for the price.

Use to go to Taco Grande all the time years ago. First time back. Food is fair, but just like everywhere else, meals are $20. For a no frills place this seemed expensive.

I had the three Birria Tacos. They were good. The Birria was pretty good, as well. Wife and daughter had the grilled chicken quesadilla, and the chicken wasn't seasoned much, but they enjoyed it. One son had two asada and two carnitas tacos and loved them. Other son had the shredded chicken quesadilla and the chicken was tasty and great. The chips and salsa were great. The service was great.

This a nice hole in the wall type of joint. The food is delicious that you don’t think about the decor. I got my torta to go and ate it back in my motel. The sandwich was big and delicious.

Authentic, delicious Mexican food. We had a taco, chili relleno and an order of 3 taquitos. Also, chips and salsa come with a combo. Plentiful portions on all items with lots of fresh guacamole. A bit pricey due to its proximity to the beach but worth it. Service was happy and friendly.

Troy Miles

This a nice hole in the wall type of joint. The food is delicious that you don’t think about the decor. I got my torta to go and ate it back in my motel. The sandwich was big and delicious.

Jack

I had the three Birria Tacos. They were good. The Birria was pretty good, as well. Wife and daughter had the grilled chicken quesadilla, and the chicken wasn't seasoned much, but they enjoyed it. One son had two asada and two carnitas tacos and loved them. Other son had the shredded chicken quesadilla and the chicken was tasty and great. The chips and salsa were great. The service was great.

Hal Halladay

Authentic, delicious Mexican food. We had a taco, chili relleno and an order of 3 taquitos. Also, chips and salsa come with a combo. Plentiful portions on all items with lots of fresh guacamole. A bit pricey due to its proximity to the beach but worth it. Service was happy and friendly.

El Taco Grande is a smallish, unpretentious Mexican eatery with good food. It's located in a nondescript suburban shopping center in Carpenteria, CA. I ordered a carne asada crispy taco plate with beans and rice to go. The beef was chopped up pretty well so it was similar to a shred. The meat was moist, flavorful, and having crisp edges. Mmm. Seasoned well. The shell was nicely fried without the dripping mess. All around yummy taco. No complaints on the beans and rice. Plus pricing was fair.

Lillian

El Taco Grande is a smallish, unpretentious Mexican eatery with good food. It's located in a nondescript suburban shopping center in Carpenteria, CA. I ordered a carne asada crispy taco plate with beans and rice to go. The beef was chopped up pretty well so it was similar to a shred. The meat was moist, flavorful, and having crisp edges. Mmm. Seasoned well. The shell was nicely fried without the dripping mess. All around yummy taco. No complaints on the beans and rice. Plus pricing was fair.

Love the food thank u so much

Pretty solid Mexican food. The burritos aren't bad, but not amazing. I go here pretty regularly due to the good price to quality/quantity.

Good prices/ food. What I like the most of this place is the variety of mexican food it has. Do really recommend having aome authentic Mexican soft tacos with an agua de horchata Or tamarindo

Not a bad spot for some tacos or a burrito. The food is pretty good, but he flavors tend to get muddy in a lot of dishes--especially the burritos. I've had stale chips here once or twice. On the bright side, the salsa is good, and the service is very friendly! Also, the portions are massive!

I stopped here after a day at the beach. Im not local. I take away two stars for my 13 dollar carne asada burrito being basically a bean burrito and the price is way high. 45 ticket for 4 tacos and two burritos. Otherwise good atmosphere and friendly staff and clean restaurant. Their soda machine was down but no biggie cause I had sodas in my ice chest, so this saved me money.

Food was good , service was excellent and authentic hole in the wall Mexican food- but holy moly these two plates $50! It is cheaper to eat at Los Arroyos gormet Mexican food in Montecito. The prices are just a little too much here. Doesn’t make sense for the atmosphere or quality of the food etc.

Margaret Henneman

Food was good , service was excellent and authentic hole in the wall Mexican food- but holy moly these two plates $50! It is cheaper to eat at Los Arroyos gormet Mexican food in Montecito. The prices are just a little too much here. Doesn’t make sense for the atmosphere or quality of the food etc.

I came here on a weekday during dinner to grab an asada jumbo burrito to go. I will say that I was starving from a long drive and it hit the spot. The burrito itself wasn’t anything special, pretty typical, I’d eat it again if I’m in the area and hungry. The salsa I got wasn’t spicy at all, but maybe they had a spicier one that I just didn’t get. I was not a fan of the chips they provided. Overall, I paid about 20 bucks for a burrito and a soft drink. It’s located in a strip mall/ retail center, so plenty of parking

Ted Medina

I came here on a weekday during dinner to grab an asada jumbo burrito to go. I will say that I was starving from a long drive and it hit the spot. The burrito itself wasn’t anything special, pretty typical, I’d eat it again if I’m in the area and hungry. The salsa I got wasn’t spicy at all, but maybe they had a spicier one that I just didn’t get. I was not a fan of the chips they provided. Overall, I paid about 20 bucks for a burrito and a soft drink. It’s located in a strip mall/ retail center, so plenty of parking

Look, if you walk into a Mexican place & it's got super bright fluorescent lighting & none of that multi-colored Mexican blanket vibe, it's not a real Mexican place. No salsa bar? What? Overall, this is a Mexican place for older white people. Won't be coming back....

Staying in a hotel nearby and working in carpinteria for a few days. Walked in and got some stares from a gentleman in the kitchen. They made me feel uncomfortable because I'm lighter shade of brown/white. Or maybe it's because I called in and asked questions about thier prep and meat selection. Ordered a chimichanga and 75% of the burrito was rice and beans(typical). Price on menu says 10$. Total was 17$. Did not put a fork in the bag and I had to eat a wet chimichanga with my hands. Disappointed in this place.. your better off going somewhere else.

Only giving an extra star because they were nice. Food is extremely mediocre. Good for old people that have diet restrictions and like bland just OK food. Not very flavorful and very typical. Salsa was the best thing I had and it was just alright. Not even good. Beans are bland. Rice is very very bland. Tapatio and salsas they have in bottles are probably just refilled and years old. They have a syrup like consistency. Would not eat here again, it's pricey also.

Mr. Foodie

Only giving an extra star because they were nice. Food is extremely mediocre. Good for old people that have diet restrictions and like bland just OK food. Not very flavorful and very typical. Salsa was the best thing I had and it was just alright. Not even good. Beans are bland. Rice is very very bland. Tapatio and salsas they have in bottles are probably just refilled and years old. They have a syrup like consistency. Would not eat here again, it's pricey also.

Over priced taco shack, a chile relleno for 6 bucks? 4 ounces of the cheapest meat for carne asada with rice and beans... 14 dollars!? If you know what a good food taste like, this is NOT the place to visit.

The potatoes were the worst i have ever tasted. Boiled then chopped. No flavor to them. The salsa can out of a can then celantro and onions added. The chips were old. The beans were bland

This place infuriated me!!!! I had to return my food 3 times and after the third time I simply asked for a refund and left without eating. There is something very wrong going on with this place. BE AWARE! I was excited at first seeing a veggie burrito with actual veggies in it labeled the Garden Burrito. So I ordered 2 of them and was stoked there was cauliflower and zucchini and carrots and not just the standard rice and beans and pico de Gallo with some lettuce. On the menu the garden burrito is labeled vegetarian, and can be vegan without cheese and sour cream. Being a plant based eater I opted for these being vegan and exclaimed no cheese or sour cream and lots of veggies please. After ordering I got a funny feeling I should confirm the vegan-ness of my meal. I asked the girl at the front if the rice in the burrito was vegetarian, she said yes without hesitation but I felt she might not even know what that means so I clarified the definition to her and she said "yes yes" to get me to go away. 1 minute later when the burritos were ready, I asked her to please confirm with the cook that there was no "caldo de pollo", chicken broth used when making the rice. So she did reluctantly with an annoyed attitude and then I see the cook nodding his head yes. So the rice has chicken broth and is not vegetarian. The girl didn't apologize and continued to be arrogant. So they start to remake the burritos with no rice. I get the new burritos and drive home. I take a bite, I'm excited. It's full of cheese an sour cream. AHHhHHHHHhh!!!!!!!! So I drive back super annoyed call them on my way and they apologize and remake them again. When I arrive to exchange the burritos I ask the girl at the counter what happened and she blames it on the cook. So I grab the newly made supposedly vegan garden burritos and drive home. The third attempt at making a vegan garden burrito is a flaccid pour excuse and is half the size and barely has anything in it but whatever , I'm starving and this whole debacle has taken over an hour. I start eating and then the wife spits out a bit and says I think that's meat. Sure enough a chunk of grey meat. I am so disgusted and mad I drive back and show the girl the meat. And she shows the cook and he says yes he cooks the beans with pieces of meat. How the heck do you serve a vegetarian burrito that had rice made with chicken broth and beans cooked with chunks of meat. So the manager girl comes out of the back to approve my refund I ask for and she doesn't do anything but say oh well and give me my 20 bucks back. Will never return here and highly advise everyone to stay away. Something is seriously wrong with food quality here! Even you meat eaters I would be worried about the food quality .

I used to come here quite often for the tostada mixta. I had to go by the restaurant to run an errand and thought I’d stop by for one to go. Not only did it take 20 min for me to get my order( there was only one other customer and his son sitting at a table) but when I get to SB and was excited to dig, before I could eat it, I had to chop up the whole shrimps and 3-4” pieces of octopus first! Then there was no seasoning what so ever, no lemon, no salt, nada....it was the worst tostada I have ever had. I was very disappointed to say the least!

Food quality is atrocious. Got sick here twice. First time I couldn't pinpoint what made me sick. Was positive the second time that it was from here. The "meat" was basically all gristle. I don't even want to know what went into making the food there.

Ok so here is my story I went to this place I order a quesadilla I thought it would come with sour cream on the side I asked can I get some sour cream and there like yes it's one dollar it's like that is so ridiculous after spending 26 dollars on my order they still want to charge me one dollar ughhh this place I do not recommend

Ordered combo cheese enchilada and crunchy beef taco. The enchilada seemed old, not freshly made with dried enchilada sauce. Taco shell was pre-made shells you buy in the grocery store. Beans were very bland. Vary disappointed & price was $20

Absolutely terrible. First girl started taking order, and before our order was fully taken, without saying anything she switched with another young girl took over all the while barely paying attention to us and they were talking together. I specifically stated I couldn't eat cilantro because I'm one of those people that cilantro tastes like soap to. I ordered two hardshell tacos asada. I got two taco shells that looked like store bought pre cooked shells the meat had no flavor and had pieces of fatty chunks. But even though there wasn't full stalks of cilantro there were small pieces of cilantro scattered in the lettuce and made it taste horrible. I tried to pick it out and was unsuccessful in getting the soapy flavor out of my meal and the waitresses were nowhere to be found and did not come back to the table. Plus when trying to dispense the self serve drink which the girl forgot to give my other half a cup when she walked off having barely finished taking our order so my other half had to reach across the counter and grab a cup... Well guess what they didn't have ice. And the drink I wanted was out of syrup. The girl said she would let me know when they filled it up. And the other girl nodded and said yeah no ice. No explanation no signs warning there was no ice. All in all this place was a horrible experience for us. I'd definitely not suggest it to anyone. And they were outrageously expensive for the quality of food and the dining experience.

Fish soup is terrible. Basically broth, carrots and a couple pieces of bones, fat and little fish. You have to pull out the fish and debone

Barge Denny

Fish soup is terrible. Basically broth, carrots and a couple pieces of bones, fat and little fish. You have to pull out the fish and debone

Meki Cox

Absolutely terrible. First girl started taking order, and before our order was fully taken, without saying anything she switched with another young girl took over all the while barely paying attention to us and they were talking together. I specifically stated I couldn't eat cilantro because I'm one of those people that cilantro tastes like soap to. I ordered two hardshell tacos asada. I got two taco shells that looked like store bought pre cooked shells the meat had no flavor and had pieces of fatty chunks. But even though there wasn't full stalks of cilantro there were small pieces of cilantro scattered in the lettuce and made it taste horrible. I tried to pick it out and was unsuccessful in getting the soapy flavor out of my meal and the waitresses were nowhere to be found and did not come back to the table. Plus when trying to dispense the self serve drink which the girl forgot to give my other half a cup when she walked off having barely finished taking our order so my other half had to reach across the counter and grab a cup... Well guess what they didn't have ice. And the drink I wanted was out of syrup. The girl said she would let me know when they filled it up. And the other girl nodded and said yeah no ice. No explanation no signs warning there was no ice. All in all this place was a horrible experience for us. I'd definitely not suggest it to anyone. And they were outrageously expensive for the quality of food and the dining experience.

20 bucks for three tacos and I was served tacos that were impossible to handle, they had to be eaten with a fork. And all three were completely stuck together. My guess is they were left over from a day or two. I will never go back here and I have been and will continue to spread the word to everyone I know in carp. I don't expect to see these scammers in business much longer

I was here I believe January 9 was this past Sunday I had ordered a burrito while waiting to wash a quilt next door at the laundry mat I had my little dog with me.( He did not go into the restaurant . while I ate my burrito he stayed in the car )about 45 minutes later I went back into the restaurant with my little dog in his stroller and I asked for a cup of ice water. It was hot outside, after about two minutes while the girl was helping a homeless man, ask again could I please get a cup of water for my dog she looks at me like I’m crazy then the guy next to her a salsa cup she tells me $.50 I said just give me a regular cup there was a customer in the restaurant that couldn’t believe it that spoke up and said “this is unbelievable I won’t come here again. It’s a little dog give her the water. “I then said no sorry it’s all right, OK here’s the deal I wasnt someone that just walked in. I had been in there and I had spent $15 on a burrito which by the way she tried charging me almost 17 when I first ordered it so right after that she had terrible attitude then I waited over 10 minutes when the restaurant wasn’t even crowded for my burrito to show up and she had the nerve to come up to me and asked me if everything‘s all right I told her I was in a hurry if my burrito was ready. I thanked her so much for her kindness. I ate half my burrito, took the rest with me , how dare the girl behind the counter deny me a cup of water for my little dog now she was short she looked pregnant I don’t know maybe she wasn’t but it was so tacky and to have a customer speak up on my dogs behalf was so kind of the stranger he left when I walked out, he followed with his food on the table. I definitely recommend you get better staff I’ve lived in Summerland for 20 years and I’ve never ever came across such rudeness. By the way I went up to Jersey Mike’s they gave my little guy a big glass of ice water and I enjoyed a large root beer will never go into this restaurant again get better staff.

Kenny T

20 bucks for three tacos and I was served tacos that were impossible to handle, they had to be eaten with a fork. And all three were completely stuck together. My guess is they were left over from a day or two. I will never go back here and I have been and will continue to spread the word to everyone I know in carp. I don't expect to see these scammers in business much longer

Sandra Hall

I was here I believe January 9 was this past Sunday I had ordered a burrito while waiting to wash a quilt next door at the laundry mat I had my little dog with me.( He did not go into the restaurant . while I ate my burrito he stayed in the car )about 45 minutes later I went back into the restaurant with my little dog in his stroller and I asked for a cup of ice water. It was hot outside, after about two minutes while the girl was helping a homeless man, ask again could I please get a cup of water for my dog she looks at me like I’m crazy then the guy next to her a salsa cup she tells me $.50 I said just give me a regular cup there was a customer in the restaurant that couldn’t believe it that spoke up and said “this is unbelievable I won’t come here again. It’s a little dog give her the water. “I then said no sorry it’s all right, OK here’s the deal I wasnt someone that just walked in. I had been in there and I had spent $15 on a burrito which by the way she tried charging me almost 17 when I first ordered it so right after that she had terrible attitude then I waited over 10 minutes when the restaurant wasn’t even crowded for my burrito to show up and she had the nerve to come up to me and asked me if everything‘s all right I told her I was in a hurry if my burrito was ready. I thanked her so much for her kindness. I ate half my burrito, took the rest with me , how dare the girl behind the counter deny me a cup of water for my little dog now she was short she looked pregnant I don’t know maybe she wasn’t but it was so tacky and to have a customer speak up on my dogs behalf was so kind of the stranger he left when I walked out, he followed with his food on the table. I definitely recommend you get better staff I’ve lived in Summerland for 20 years and I’ve never ever came across such rudeness. By the way I went up to Jersey Mike’s they gave my little guy a big glass of ice water and I enjoyed a large root beer will never go into this restaurant again get better staff.