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This small taqueria sits just a couple block from where my dad grew up in the 1930's and 1940's. A humble menu hangs above the service counter.
What would you like?
One taco with la lengua, one with octopus and one with carne asada.
No tengo la lengua y octopus hoy, porque la lengua y octopus era caro en el mercado. No puedo comprarle porque I would have to raise my prices.
Ah si.
Quiero carne asada, carnitas...
Yo creo que dos tacos son bastantes para Usted.
Esta bien.
Salsa verde, rojo?
Verde por favor. Could I also have a Jamaica?
One woman did everything. Took my order. Ran the cash register. Assembled two simple tacos. She watched Mexican soap opera in between customers "¿A donde es mi niño? ¿A donde?"
Tortillas, grilled meat and guacamole served with a slice of lime. Divine.
After a few moments of rapture, I ordered an horchata to go. Served in a styrofoam cup and dispensed from a soda fountain, I think I just found one of the best guilty pleasures in University Heights. Creamy, a little sweet and tasting of cinnamon.
You don't need to speak Spanish to order food here. Most of the customers didn't and my Spanish is terrible. This taqueria serves up serious, even divine, Mexican. And it only cost $5.67. I only wish it were down the street from my house.
As part of my 10 mile bike ride (which ain't nothin'!) I thought I'd swing back through here to try the carne asada. I had high hopes for this burrito once I saw the woman cooking the meat on the grill - nice, no pre-made carne asada.
I was given my burrito (and a free bottle of water!) and quickly sliced that sucker open. Ah yes, just by the way it looked (carne asada burrito # 14 - http://www.yelp.com/bi...) I could tell that this was going to be good! Tender and nicely seasoned carne asada. The beans were thankfully can-free while the cheese and tortilla passed with flying colors (even though I'm not sure what those colors are).
A fantastic carne asada burrito (with beans and cheese only) that is, in my opinion, one of the best in SD and one that can easily hang with Gloria's, Sombrero and Los Reyes.
*Updated Nov. 10, 2009: This place has an AWESOME chicken burrito with ALL white meat - tender and delicious.
Chicken burrito (with beans and cheese only) # 13 - http://www.yelp.com/bi...
If you go across the street to Roberto's instead of El Tio, remove yourself from the face of the earth immediately. 4 stars, inching towards 5.*
I read that this place (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) has a good breakfast burrito so I knew it was my… Read more »
I am a regular diner at El Tio Albertos. The Mexican cuisine is the leanest of it's kind, and priced below the average.
Before Tio Alberto's, I always thought that the more fat, the tastier. Absolutely not true here! The food tastes great and you don't get the bloated feeling after a combo meal. The business is quite slow because they compete with a Mex. restaurant that is literally a few yards from a drive-thru Mexican Fast Food pickup - Robertos. The folks at Tio Alberto's are really cool and go out of their way to please. ;-)
My desire for spice is average and my favorite item on the menu - the Carne Asada Burrito Combo (w/rice+beans @ $5.79) is just right everytime.
Tio Alberto's is my favorite burrito shop within 5 blocks of my house. And there are about 20 of them within 5 blocks of my house. So it says something, I think. A friend and I sometimes fight over going to Tio Alberto's or Roberto's across the street, but I usually get my way, because if not, I won't eat !
I'm a vegetarian, so having a great potato burrito is very important to me. Even when a greasy taco shop tells me they don't have lard in their beans, I still try to stay away from them. But I have tried the beans on my friend's vegetarian burrito, and they were yummy. (by the way, the vegetarian burrito is only $2.99 and weighs like two pounds)
My husband gets a potato burrito with eggs and cheese, which is delicious, but not flavorful enough for me. So I get my potato burrito with sour cream, guacamole and cheese. The tortillas are sooooo freaking good ! They're always perfectly warm and soft, but chewy like a real tortilla should be.
Disgustingly fattening, delicious, filling for $4. You can't go wrong with that !
The green sauce is just spicy enough for me; the red is less spicy but more flavorful. I know of quite a few people who I've taken there would like to see a salsa bar or something with a few more spice options, but I am content with the two sauces they offer.
I have frequented Tio Alberto's for three years, now. I walk in, say hi, and the woman behind the counter starts my burrito without saying a word, because I always get the same thing and she's well aware of that by now.
The food is good and cheap and the people are friendly. I will go to El Tio Alberto's til they day close their doors.... assuming I live that long....
I love me some Carne Asada Chips from El Tio Alberto. I befriended the lady cook and whenever I order, she recognizes my voice (I usually call it in) and always kicks down.
The chips are loaded with two types of cheese, Mexican salsa, real guacamole (if you ask for it) and carne asada...all standard ingredients, but done with the kind of love that only a mom & pop resto can give.
Get both types of hot sauce, the green and the red. Both are well balanced and contrasting enough to really accentuate the different flavors of the plate.
Best thing about these CAChips is that it will only set you back $5.27 with tax.
I cannot really comment on the other items they serve because I've only ordered the CA Chips when I come here.
Ahi vamos!
This place is AWESOME! it is run by Adriana, Sylvestre, and Adriana's husband.. I walked in there and they are so super friendly, I was dearly hoping I would be a fan of the food, so I could finally have a go-to taco shop... I was pleasantly surprised... I have tried several of their dishes and have not been even a tiny bit disappointed yet... they have Lengua, Cabeza, Pulpo - all kinds of meats that are hard to find in the typical taco shops... Adriana is was friendly and will sometimes give out soda cards, where if you become a regular customer, she'll give you a soda for ever regular food plate you purchase. Friendly, efficient service, good variety, good PRICES... this place is awesome, and I highly recommend it.
This place is amazing.
Excellent burritos.
The place is very small and right on the corner of a building, the first time I went there I almost missed it.
There seems to be so many good mexican food places in this area, and this is definitely one of the best!
I'm so glad we found such a great Mexican place near our apartment. Hubby had the California Burrito and I had the Carne Asada Chips. We both loved what we ordered. Cheap and cheerful.
this place is inches from my friends house, and right across from Robertos. everytime i am down there hanging out, i wait to eat until i am there. they have EVERYthing(tongue, brain, etc...) but also all of your normal eats. i have had many great meals here. prices are great, tons of specials, and wide range of good food, make this place a worth a visit.
Best shit around! Their carne asada breakfast burrito con papas is $5 and will fill you up for hours. Great tasting meats! The thing I like about the meat is that it is always lean and not all fatty like some taquerias. The small and friendly staff will take care of you in every which way just short of giving you a happy ending!
i love this taqueria! first of all, they have a menu that dwarfs most of their many competitors, and as the name would indicate, it's heavy on the seafood. the octopus tostadas are a personal favorite, but uncle albert knows his way around simpler fare like carne asada burritos as well.
I have been searching for a decent mexican food place since i moved down here. Well I found it! Tio Albertos has not let me down yet, I have ordered, the Carne Asada burrito, California Burrito and 5 rolled taquitos. Every single one of them reminds me of my home town (Leucadia) where the beans are freshly made, the tortillas are floury (no rubber tortillas here!), and best of all is the price. Last night I tried the "Conga burrito" which has rice, beans carne asada...soo good! Avoid Robertos (right across the street) and go here instead, you wont regret it.
The food was ok, but the place across the stree with the drive through smokes this place. Way too much cheese on the taco made for a less than enjoyable meal. There were a bunch of flies in the restaurant too, not cool.
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