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Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: East Oakland
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I'm a big eater and no joke...GET THE HALF PORTION.
I enjoy everything that I've tried but the portions are huge and since I have a hard time listening to my stomach I make myself so stuffed that I never want to see mexican food again.
This time my half portion was perfect.
Did I already eat 5 tacos? Yes. Did I have to eat the biggest burrito I possibly could have at the next place we went? Probably not. The Super Famoso Burrito is as long as a forearm. It was a tough battle, but I managed to get the better of the burrito...or did I? We started eating around 9:00PM. Really not a good idea, but on this night, I would not be denied. Id say for the price ($10.35), this burrito was a good deal, and a spectacular deal if you were feeding 2. Everything in the burrito tasted really good. I had carne asada and rice, that's pretty much it (with sour cream and cheese). The sauce was really good too. My only complaint about the burrito is that I wish it was warmer when it came out in the hope that it would still be warm when I go towards the end. Other than that, no complaints.
So later in the night, I was so full that I woke up at 3AM and couldn't sleep because I was still trying to digest all the food. So yes, I may have won, but I lost in the end.
Of note, Puff N Stuff is across the street and the Hells Angels of Oakland are too.
There is plenty of street parking and possibly a lot too.
And don't forget, smile, you're on camera!
I am soooo glad that I live near this place! I've never eaten anything from here that I didn't enjoy. Burritos, tortas, tacos, quesadillas - all excellent! My favorite is the chile relleno and their burritos. :D
Too bad I need to lose weight, so I've had to go on hiatus from my usual weekly visits. :(
holy smokes! i am salivating, thinking of those homemade flour tortillas. shared the shrimp fajitas and a cheese enchilada verde, both very delicious and both made with the handmade tortillas. dinner for two was a little over $20. i am very judgmental and snobby about my mexican food bc i am from socal, but i'm definitely sold on this place. parking lot across the street.
Let's start here: The food at this place is good. Big flavor, a little grease (but not too much), and well-prepared. It's solid Mexican fare, kind of the home-cookin' variety. In the grand scheme of all my Mexican experiences I wouldn't give it four stars, but since I haven't been impressed by many options in the Bay Area, this place gets four, comparatively speaking.
Details: I had the flautas. They were delicious, and a half order was more than enough for me, plus it was only like $8. You can't really go wrong with that. They were served with rice and beans, both of which weren't amazing, but were FAR from flavorless.
The chips were fresh, the salsa....I don't know about the salsa. It was okay. Watery. And I have the same complaint about the guacamole. Very watery, and contained far too much lime juice. I'm NEVER able to leave a bowl of guac partially-full, and I was more than happy to let the server take this stuff away. It was definitely disappointing.
We ordered a tamale, but it never came, which was weird. By the time we finished our food we were full so we didn't ask about it. We didn't get charged for it, which was good. The waitresses were nice and service was quick.
The verdict? If I were in the mood for a cheap, good Mexican meal, I'd say this place is a safe bet. But if you're looking for more refined fare, I'd look elsewhere.
Went here for dinner last night and it was sooooo goooood.
I entered the restaurant really hungry and was served chips and salsa very quickly... good service! Plus it wasn't so crowded on Wednesday night at 8pm I guess. Corn tortilla chips was so fresh and the salsa was so good and a bit spicy.
I ordered the wet burrito fajita and it came out to be HUGE! Maybe a foot long, or more? (I didn't bring a ruler...) I wonder what kind of to go box they use for someone ordering this to go? Hm maybe a foil. It sure was heavy though. And hot. And soooo goood. I like how they have onion and bell pepper inside the burrito.
My friend ordered the seafood platter and omg it looked so good as well. I stole few bites from his plates (I think he didn't mind, or didn't care, because the portion was huge as well) and all the seafood was so flavorful! Ok, I'm ordering that next time.
Great find, stumbled upon it while looking for some menudo for my friend. If in the area and looking for good mexican food give it a try. The super burrito will feed you for a week.
The service was excellent as well.
I like the tacos, tortas, burritos and mole.
steak tacos!!!!!!!!!! when i am hungry and want something quick and reasonable on my pocket i go here! I like thier mole, and they make it fresh 2 order!!! and stays open late for all you clubbers!!!!!
Just "go", baby. Every 5 star review here on Yelp is dead on. I have been going here since it was a single storefront (was that '88?).
A few points that have not been covered: the waitresses have been here steady for a long time - they are really good considering how busy a place like this gets. The Hell's Angels Headquarters is a visual historic landmark ,no doubt. But one of the best things while you are eating this great ,cheap, filling, huge plate of food is: the jukebox.
There is no reason to go to Mexico- Go get a tanning lamp, get a light bronze on, then off to Zamorano for dinner - you not only saved a ton of money on dinner, you saved about a 1000 bucks on AIRFARE.
The best Mexican food I have ever eaten outside of Mexico. I am not kidding.
Order the mole. You will pee your pants, it's so good.
Just got back from this place. What a surprise, and the reason it gets 5 stars. No, not that it's going to compete with a white glove service super upscale restaurant, but because it's an amazing deal of food, price and service in an unassuming local neighborhood (read that as "in da 'hood") eatery.
If you're on a budget and want to feed 2 people for under $10 for dinner with each of you feeling totally full and satisfied, this is the place! Order a fomoso (wet burrito) for $7.35 and it can easily feed 2! Especially when they also provide you with chips and salsa as you walk in the door. Talk about quick service! (Okay, it wasnt busy when we arrived at 6:30 on a Wednesday evening)
My girlfriend ordered the seafood platter and I enjoyed watching her have multiple foodgasms as she dug deeper into her platter of fish, clams, muscles, octopus, abalone and TONS of garlic grilled shrimp over a half crab! What an amazing dish. All that for $14 and change. In an upscale restaurant, that much seafood would easily be a $45 dish. Actually, they never would give you so much in an expensive restaurant.
I still have half my burrito and my girlfriend walked out with half her meal as we just couldnt finish! We're looking at an awesome lunch tomorrow.
They offer both booth and table seating in the dining area, the chairs are armless and they have a variety of table sizes to accommodate an intimate dinner for 2 or an entire soccer (futbol!) team.
We will definitely be back to try more of the menu.
Enjoy!
After reading the reviews here, my husband & I went with the half orders. Good decision! We had the taco & the flautas, both with rice and beans. Great taste. The dishes came with a garnish of jalapeno pickled carrots which I thought were awesome! Our son went for the gusto and got the full burrito - huge! And full of flavor, best thing we ordered. So big, that we each got a chunk of it, and still took about 1/3 of it with us. Our server was very friendly and helpful. Overall a very good experience. If we're back in town, we'll definitely be stopping in. Next time we're going for something with shrimp. We saw all these orders heading to other tables that made our mouth's water!
I had great food, I had Huevos Mexicana for breakfast and what really wowed me were the little things. Yeah, the main part of the dish was good, but the refried beans were so so good, I pretty much finished this before anything else on the plate. The weirdest part is, I normally don't like refried beans.
The corn tortillas were also out of this world, it was so fresh.
Yes, the food was good, but I'm not giving this place more stars until a subsequent visit. I could have sworn that the dining area smelled urinal cakes. That is not appetizing.
When I get with my pal, Whatley, it's always Mexican food we seek. We're both from Texas and love our TexMex.
I have a thing for nachos. I have a thing for cheese and meat. And this place satisfies my things.
I was warned that the portions were huge, which justifies the slightly higher than expected prices.
The nachos arrived and I was wiggling in my seat. Happy happy joy joy. Huge. I shared. And then I kept eating. I nearly finished the plate. OMG, I nearly finished the plate. But the misery of being so full was well worth it, and going all the way over there from Pacifica, too.
This was a double date before a Warriors game. I took my girlfriend, and my cousin and his girlfriend to El Taco Zamorano last night. My normally picky cousin and I each got the platter of fish, clams, muscles, octopus, abalone and TONS of garlic grilled shrimp over a half crab. I think it was called the Marasca or something. He raved and raved about the flavor and quality. This was much more than you can get anywhere for any price. The ladies both got Chicken in sweet mole sauce and they were in heaven. It was such a great value that we forgot about the scary neighborhood.
Biggest burritos I've ever seen in my life. I went with a group of 14 people- and we all agreed: biggest burritos ever.
They're bigger than a donkey dick. Bigger than a breadbasket, they hang off a large platter plate- on both sides of the platter.
The seafood platter is gigantic/enormous as well- it can feed 6-10 people.
Superb! Muy bien!
This place kicks major booty. I was recommended it by my boyfriend and tracked it down with my mom.
I ordered the camarones rancheros which were out of this world. The shrimp was plump, full of flavor, and juicy. They had great service and clean atmosphere.
The chips were a little thin for my preference but it didn't take away from the explosion of flavor that my dish left in my mouth.
I walked back to my car super slow after that meal.
I love Zamorano so do the HELLS ANGELS across the street! I've been here numerous occasions and each time has been wonderful. But last night, i must say could have been better. It was totally not their fault, but rather mine. I wanted to order something different other than the usual Machaca con Huevos, so it being Sunday, I decided to order the Menudo.
Now I've had menudo plenty of times, yes i know what the soup consists of, tripe, innards, and whatever else is inside a cow's stomach. Never fazed me, I've eaten far more bizarre dishes (ate grilled bat once) and also believe that food is by far the best medium to learn and experience various cultures. I'm the type of guy who will try almost anything but for some reason, I could not eat my bowl of Menudo from Zamorano. What threw me off was the cow hoof in my soup, yes a hoof. I was not at all grossed-out, I've had pig feet before and munching on grilled bat from the Philippines was a far more taboo experience. But for some reason that hoof just really got to me, I could not touch my dish and was regulated to just eating the tortillas that came with my meal, whoo hooo! for the tortillas!
I end up getting my untouched menudo boxed up, took it home, and enjoyed it later in the night.
The hoof was left behind.
it was hot here and outside. it probably wasn't a good day to eat mex but here i was.
sampling:
-camarones al mojo de ajo (14.55):rice was kind of dry and beans normal, shrimp had the garlic taste but the grilled medium sized shrimp had no shrimp taste. recommend an AVOID.
-negro modelo (3.55) nice
service: immediately upon presentation of the menu, i was asked what did i want to drink.. went with negro modelo, no water offered. she returned w/ hot chips, salsa and modelo.
in hindsight, the camarones was a bad choice, way overpriced. many patrons ordered the burrito. very large, diverse menu.
btw, be careful of bikers in this hood, the hell's angels hq is a block away.
This place has always been a family favorite. Would come here virtually every weekend for carnitas when living in Oakland. We've since moved so we don't frequent as much, but have been know to make special trips just for some delicious, authentic Mexican food. I've only given it four stars because the place is small and when busy the staff seem overwhelmed.
It's fine. Nothing bad, nothing outstanding.
We enjoy this place but they use too much bleach in their sanitizing system - if you get a fountain drink it will taste more bleachy than peachy.
They have the usual taco-enchilada-flauta combos plus soups (a really good vegetable one - plain and delicious and cheap) shrimp and wonderful huge fried fish - check out the guys, most of them get a big fish and dig at the diamonds of the scored flesh.
So this one time, the Mrs. and I grabbed a little "afternoon delight" and worked up quite an appetite. We were hungry so we sped off to this place and slurped up some good food. On the way out she waved at the people who worked there and thanked them - they weren't as friendly as usual and when we were out the door I looked down and noticed that her purple jockey for women underwear were stuck in her pant leg and she was dragging them behind her like a big strip of toilet paper. She was in such a hurry she'd taken off her pants and underwear together and after put on clean underwear, not noticing the old ones were still in the pants leg. We didn't go there for a while.
YO MAMA is so fat, she weighs almost as much as the wet burrito from El Taco Zamorano.
YO MAMA is so trashy, I think she played the mistress on the novella that was on the TV at El Taco Zamorano.
YO MAMA is so hairy, she has a longer mustache than the Hell's Angel I saw grubbin' on a big ol' plate of those delicious garlic shrimp from El Taco Zamorano.
El Taco Zamorano is good. Real good. But if you go on a weekend get there early. It's a pretty small place, and on a good night it does an even bigger business than YO MAMA.
I don't know, something about a place that serves bottled beer by the bucket is just so right on. Furthermore the handmade, piping hot, corn tortillas go beyond "too die for" and slide right into "to kill for" as in serial killer shopping spree. Everything I had there(especially machacas) would send you to the grave if you were positioned between me and my plate.
Damn!
I love love love the huevos rancheros here. For real. The chilaqueles (sp ?) are freakin awesome too. My honey and I are generally here after a heavy night of drinking on the weekends. No lie. I generally avoid eating animal innards, but even I like the menudo here. At least I think it was menudo I ate. Oh well, that shiz was good!
I'm very very very picky about mexican food.
i dont like it here. my office comes to eat, i order the the carne asada with no beans, ewww hella under cooked. and they still fuckin give me beans. they charged me ATM card 2x's and pissed me off. I'll never go here again
Hands down, without a doubt the BEST Mexican food in the San Francisco Bay Area. Don't even bother with the Mission, with those sad excuses for burritos served in steamed tortillas with whole pinto beans. Just go here. Eat. Smile. Repeat.
The carnitas here is out of this world. The flautas are awesome. The super burrito is a meal for 2. Seriously. The thing is massive.
seriously, their burritos could feed a family. i love their chips and salsa too. sweet folks, right across from the hell's angels (consider it a soundtrack of sorts - vroom vroom!)
I've had several burittos all over the Bay and have always compared them to the taste of my families authentic Mexican cooking. El Taco Zamorano is a clean restaurant with a nice cozy enviroment. The food is definitly some of the best including the Camarones Empanizados(breaded jumbo shrimp). This place has the "Burrito Famoso" which is the BEST wet burrito I've ever had in the Bay. There's nothing that compares to this burrito. They use high quality chicken perfectly cooked. It also has the highest selection of Mexican cheeses inside and out with a special red enchilada style sauce. I usually get it with sour cream and guacamole. If you've found this review, then its your destiny to taste this one. Your taste buds will thank you.
I have to take off 0.5 star for service with a 4.5 total. The waitresses are very nice but, usually understaffed and running around. This is usually the case in most authentic restaurants of this type. Just don't expect the whole Disneyland royal treatment.
This review is for " El Taco Zamorano Restaurant" on Foothill Blvd. There is "Taqueria Zamorano" on Internatinal Blvd. which is the complete opposite of what this restaurant represents as far as quality and cleanliness. They must be different owners but I'm not sure.
Update: Had the best chilaquiles here recently. A good breakfast dish.
So. Good. The burrito will feed you (well, me) for two meals. My favorite dinner is the steak flautas with rice and beans. I believe I actually start drooling when I dial their number to order take-out.
Great landmark: look for it across from the Hell's Angels.
Am I in Mexico? This is the next best thing! The atmosphere screams Mexico and why not? When you want an authentic taste while listening to real sounds of the land and watching a novela while you eat, this is the place!
Don't miss out on the Hells Angels bar across the street.
We love this place. The beans and rice. Great. The salsa. Great. The enchiladas verde. My personal favorite. The chimichanga. Great. The 'famoso' burrito. Great BIG. They use 2 giant tortillas so it's about as long and big around as a man's forearm. Maybe even bigger. Plus it's Hells Angels Angels adjacent in case you're a motorcycle enthusiast.
I have been eating here since they opened in 1985.
The portions have become slightly smaller since the remodel.
I am not a fan of any football sized burritos-they usually miss the point. Wonderful whole fried snapper, excellent carnitas and incredible soups. Coronitas in a bucket, NICE. Get the homemade corn tortillas! Friendly and efficient servers. Simply one of the best Mexican restaurants in the whole Bay Area.
Just came home from from yet another dinner at El Taco Zamarano. My fav is the camarones ala plancha! ,,,,,,Butterfly shrimp, grilled with garlic (I think it is). So yummy! Wrap up a few shrimp in a tortilla (corn or flour) with rice and beans and a few slices of fresh avocado (ordered separately). This plate also comes with a salad for about $15, a little on the pricey side but the portion is decent. If you want a smaller portion (and a little cheaper) order the shrimp individually with a side of rice and beans and tortillas.
Relaxing atmosphere and never rushed. Popular place with a steady flow and rarely a wait for a table. Service can be slow sometimes, so you may have to flag them down occasionally. They also have a small parking lot across the street on Rosedale Ave.
I haven't tried the breakfast, but did see it on the menu.
Some of the best authentic Mexican food you can get in the Bay!
YUMMY!! I Love this place, Real - Authentic food. Easily hands down my favorite place to eat Mexican food! Great service too, Best Fomoso burrito, ANYWHERE.
I read about El Taco Zamorano from Yelp and another food site. Before that I met someone at a BAVC (http://bavc.org) class who lived in the area. He recommended this place and mentioned it was across from a Hell's Angel headquarters. Great ambiance!
I had the pork carnitas and they were very tasty. Big enough serving that I took the leftovers home and had a great meal the next day. The next table over had a seafood dish that looked great. It was served with oranges (??) and a good variety of seafood.
Personally I feel a sign of a good ethnic restaurant is how many locals eat there. If I'm in a Chinese restaurant, I prefer to see mostly Chinese eating there. When we ate here, we were probably the only non-Hispanic group so that's a great sign!
While the indoor seating area leaves something to be desired, the food will not disappoint. I simply walked in this place one day and I've come back many times--my favorite dish by far is the fried fish. You get a good sized fish that is seasoned and fried along with tortillas and all the fix'ns. I recommend sharing it with someone else though--it's big.
We ate here after going to taco truck El Gordo #2 and it stood up, which takes a lot. I had the shrimp el diablo which was good but I wished it was the garlic shrimp. They were cooked perfectly and tasted great, much better than I expected. We saw another table get a whole fish. There were 8 cops eating here and I sprayed one of them while overturning the lime into my corona, but he was cool with it. I was over having a mini heart attack and flashing back to high school thinking he was gonna arrest me or something. My friends shared a wet burrito with shrimp that was huge and awesome. Also, the corn tortillas were orgasmic, I'm not kidding, amazing fresh and soft. It seemd a little expensive but we were really happy with our meal here.
It was my first, I will remember it . If you love chilaquiles this has to be the best one yet. The portions is big and everything on the plate is very tasty. I will be going back to try the rest of the menu.
Saturday Happy Hour!
Neighborhood: Old Oakland
Happy Hour
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Neighborhood: Fruitvale
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: East Oakland
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Fruitvale
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Fruitvale
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Fruitvale
Category: Mexican
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