Emma's Taco House

Elite '08

88

307

Andrew C.

Portland, OR

Without a doubt, Emma's taco house is the worst mexican restaurant I've ever been to in my life. Their slogan is something along the lines of, "a different kind of mexican restaurant". My advice, fall back in line. They're not doing anything remotely acceptable save amazing. You're greeted with school-lunch style soup or salad with "house" dressing. Some freakish ranch-like concoction gone wrong. Entrees are hugh, but tasteless surrounded by some kind of bean slop and burned rice.

Somehow, this place won best restaurant in West Sacramento two years in a row in 2006 and 2007. How? I have no idea.

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86

231

Melanie D.

Elk Grove, CA

i absolutely love their soup and salad.  the rest of their food is just so so.  and the service is only good when i go in with family members who know everyone there.  otherwise the wait is unacceptable.  i recommend chugging down to sal's.  the food is much better and the staff are much more friendly.

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0

7

Brad P.

Concord, CA

SUPER TACO!

That's what I ordered at Emma's.  And "super taco" was a pretty apt description of what I received.  It was "super" in both quantity and quality terms.  Though admittedly, it was a bit "more super" in terms of quantity.

I'm not sure if this "super taco" is a regular menu item.  But it is worth checking out when they have it -- if you are a taco fan.  

It's not exactly "lovingly crafted", that is to say: we aren't talking fine cuisine here.  But all the stuff that makes a taco tasty are in there: plenty of sour cream, guac and other goodies.

As other reviewers have noted: you get your money's worth on the margaritas.  Those bad boys are STEE-rong!  They aren't lovingly crafted either though.  They are simple machine-blended margaritas -- think "slurpees for the adult crowd".  Just the right thing for a sunny Saturday afternoon, however.

Other than these two items, it's hard to see a big drawing power for Emma's.  As other reviewers have mentioned:
- There is zero atmosphere and lighting is dismal
- Salads are "weak" in terms of taste and presentation
- Sides also "weak" in the same way, again there is zero craftsmanship at work here -- so don't expect it
- Service is mediocre: you can get help if you need it, but I don't remember anyone coming to ask how we were doing
- Prices are not great, though not outrageous

Emma's get's an "A-OK" from me because it is clean, they put a lot on your plate, and a pitcher of their margaritas will burn your head to a stump.

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Elite '08

96

150

Janine P.

Sacramento, CA

Okay, this is not your fancy foodie kind of place. The atmosphere is . . . .what atmosphere?  I've had some bland food here, but now know what to order - Chicken tacos, cheese enchiladas, or chicken flauta (really it's as big as a chimichunga). And if you're a chili-head like me, you have to ask your server for the bottle of hot sauce (I don't know why they just don't leave them on the table - like it's some kind of secret).  I have to admit that I use a LOT of the hot sauce; makes the food taste way better.  But I do have to say that the salsa they they bring to your table (not the stuff at the salsa bar) is really tasty.  And the soup that comes with dinner or lunch is really yumma-licious. You do get a lot of food for the money. . . a full bowl of soup and salad, not the garnish most Mexican restaurants give you . . I really hate for my garnish to be swimming in my enchilada sauce.  

I prefer my margaritas on the rocks. Theirs do look like they come out of some big margarita slurpee machine, but they are strong and do the trick.  Horrendous wine selection, so it's margarita slurpee for me. Also, I don't know why the food is sooo different, but the Emma's on K street is just not even worth it.

Update:May 4, 2007:
My co-workers treated me to a B-day lunch = Emma's (mainly because we luv the house soup and salsa. I was sooo full from the tasty soup.  The rice, which I usually like, was dried-out - not typical for the Bryte Emma's, but to be expected of the K St. location.  Hmmmm, I did notice that  the hot sauce that I usually have to beg for were on every table - "Quatro de Mayo"? or did they get tired/irked from the customers constantly asking for the "hot sauce"?

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3

17

Melanie L.

Sacramento, CA

I go here a lot for lunch since I work down the street. The food is slightly high priced for lunch (about $8 for a burrito plate) but the burrito is the size of a freakin child! Plus, you get all the chips you can eat as well as soup or salad with your meal. I've never known any mexican food joints to serve soup or salad with a burrito. The side order burritos are plenty of food and only about $4 so thats what I usually order.

The decor could use some updating for sure. The staff is... authentic? Its not a "trendy" work place and the customer service isnt anything special. The salsas are great, especially the avocado salsa. They also have jalapeno sour cream  served at the salsa bar, which is great since most places make you pay additional for sour cream. I love to mix it with the avocado salsa. Their house salsa is awesome too but the chips are actually my favorite part, they arent the same kind of chips most places serve and I think they really are out of a bag but I love them. I also tried the nachos once, they are HUGE! Half an order is plenty for 2 to share, and the shredded beef is awesome.

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5

21

Elise G.

West Sacramento, CA

I went here for lunch today.  I ordered a side chicken burrito and with tax and tip it came to about $6.50.  It was plenty of food for me.  Emma's gives huge portions for a low price.  The food is pretty standard Mexican food.  It is not gourmet but it works for lunch.  The service was pretty quick considering the place was packed at 12pm.  I recommend getting there before 12pm for lunch if you can.  Looking at the lunch plates other people were ordering, I am pretty sure one order is enough for two people.  

The restaurant decor is needs some updating.  The booth that I sat in was old, I pretty much skunk into the seat once I sat.    

I believe Emma's is a good value compared to going to a fast food place for lunch.  The food tastes much better and is made fresh.

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Elite '08

22

138

Cyndi L.

Sacramento, CA

I went to Emmas in West Sac (Bryte is in West Sac) on the advice of a friend who RAVED about their margaritas.

Ok, so their margaritas are ok, and a pitcher is reasonably priced. But make no mistake.......their margaritas are only good because they are fricking STRONG. Think margarita machine margaritas with a bottle of tequilla added.

They committ the cardinal sin of Mexican restaurants, in my opinion....they serve chips from a BAG. BLASPHEMY!!!!!!!!

The food is mediocre. It wasn't terrible, but it certainly wasn't great and it definitely wasn't worth the price you pay for it. I think they build their tequilla costs into the food prices.

The one bright spot was that they have a yummy cilantro dressing on their lettuce (they are one of those places that puts dressing on lettuce and calls it a salad.......uhm, ok).  

The decore is.........eh. The staff was.........eh. All in all, I wouldn't go back unless I was with a group of friend who desperately wanted to go and get drunk. And even then, I'd probably just order the lettuce.

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18

88

Kevin L.

West Sacramento, CA

Slow to take your order, but the food comes out fast. I felt the food was "OK".. a little bland.. and certainly not worth the price paid.

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Elite '08

26

124

Greg S.

Sacramento, CA

There are few things that can rescue a poor meal like a good tortilla.  This is good news for Emma's, since their meals start out pretty poorly.  

Emma's greets the new diner with a fairly limp handshake in the form of bland chips and salsa, cafeteria style soup and salad, and a stale, permeating aroma akin to a nursing home funk.  Then, your main course comes (in my case, chile colorado, yours might be different), ridiculously oversized, smelling pungently of powdered oregano and chiles, and served with an innocuous tortilla on the side.  The meat is tender and well simmered in the sauce, the rice and beans are decent, and the tortilla--oh God, that tortilla.  Like giving a penitent man last rights, that tortilla wipes away all past sins and delivers the meal straight to heaven.  It leaves you feeling special, pampered, even, dare I say, exceptional.  That is until you ask the waitress if the tortillas are freshly made and she says that no, they're ordered from a distributor in Vallejo, and then you feel like a schmuck for getting so excited.

www.sacrag.com

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