Lalo's Tacos Etc
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Neighborhood: Hillcrest1266 University Ave
(between Richmond St & Vermont St)
San Diego, CA 92103 (619) 294-6810
45 Reviews for Lalo's Tacos Etc
Stop! You don't have to go to La Fuente, unless it's 2am.
Lalo's is much better for you! Less greasy and they have BEER.
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How do you judge inexpensive Mexican food as being healthy? Relatively healthy to other small Mexican establishments is probably more accurate description. But the fact of the matter is that the ingredients are pretty much same, the service is better, and the place is much cleaner than sitting in benches outside or sitting in a cramped restaurant with chucks of guacamole stains and chopped strands of lettuce on the vacant tables.
When it comes to the food, I couldn't tell what made Lalos different, but there is something that definitely sets Lalos apart. I think the sprinkle some Aztec gold on their carne or mole sauce or more realistically, they use actually meat instead of half meat, half tripe on their burritos.
Frankly, I didn't care for Lalos rolled tacos, I tend to go for the deep fried, nasty stuff. I guess the 'unhealthy' stuff always tastes better. That aside, Lalos is always a good visit for some cheap Mexican food.
Last note, if I wanted truly health Mexican food, I would drop by Ranchos on University Heights or make it myself.
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If you're looking for a lot of options, and HEALTHY Mexican food in a taco shop environ, this is your spot. If you're not, go to the crappy drive-thru taco shop across the street. Lalo's is excellent for providing customers with the option of not feeling guilty for eating a carne asada burrito on a hang-over sunday. Usually I try to order a carne asada bowl (delicious) or a vegetarian black bean burrito (also delicious). They have a pretty good salsa bar, fast service, and, usually, interesting clientele. Almost every item on the menu can be ordered to be more healthy (instead of the fried, battered fish, why not try the grilled fish taco?) and there is a large variety already on the menu. My only complaints are that oftentimes it is a little hard to find parking in the ever-popping shopping center, and I'm not especially pleased with some of their seafood menu (particularly the shrimp burrito). Yet, this has become my regular local Mexican taco shop simply for the healthy options. No more guilt!
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POTATO ROLLED TACOS..... the best by far. I've had these wonderful fried delights elsewhere but nothing quite compares to Lalo's version. Everything else is pretty much standard. I threw in an extra star because there isn't a minimum purchase to use your card.
Not too hard to find a parking, spacious seating and fast service.
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This is one of my favorite taco shops. The food is excellent, nothing fancy or expensive happening here. The people here are friendly. They take cards. The music is bumping. They are open late! The salsas are fresh and they actually get the green sauce right. This is one of the few places that serve amazing taquitos de pollo. There is no bike rack but they don't seem to care if I bring my bike in occasionally.
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Look...I love Mexican food. Carne asada might just be God's gift to my taste buds. And to be honest...I'm not really that picky about it. Let's be frank, after some solid hours of day drinking, carne asada fries are carne asada fries...or so I thought, until yesterday evening.
Worst carne asada fries EVER. Instead of shoe string fries, they used these big chunky potato wedge-like fries...and they weren't very well cooked. The guacamole was that watered-down American style guac, not the real stuff you find in most taco shops. Though the meat was tasty, it wasn't the best, and there wasn't much of it.
I'd definitely pick any "erto's" restaurant over Lalo's...you know, Roberto's, Aiberto's, Filiberto's, etc.
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Healthy, reliable, fast Mexican food. I love the breakfast burritos: eggs, salsa fresca, cheese and papas. Also, the potato tacos are amazing. Pretty much everything on the menu is amazing. You can even phone in your order ahead. Most of the staff are friendly, and although the place lacks ambience, it is always clean.
I used to go to this place often. They make a mean carne asada burrito there. They're open fairly late which is awesome if you'd been drinking at the bars nearby and need some late night snacks. I don't recommend the carne asada fries because their fries kind of suck, but they have some very filling beef rolled tacos. Three of those things are practically a meal.
Good corn quesadillas + friendly service
It's located in a "plaza", but don't let that deter you from eating here. Plenty of parking and Blockbuster next door. What more do you need?
I go to this place at least once a week. Fresh mexican food with good service. Flautas are the best, alongside the rolled tacos and, carne asada fries. They also have whole wheat options. They are also open late, but this place is not one of those, " i'll only go here when i'm drunk" places. Day or night, its good no matter what
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"Hola, Clara? Como estas?"
"Bien, gracias, Sarah." a little giggle escapes Clara's throat. "Sarah, estas barachas?"
"Oh, Clara." I know I'm not going to be looked at the same when I serve her her americano... "Si, Clara. Necesitamos mas comida. Quiero un burrito de black bean vegetarian con pollo y carne asada nachos. Pronto por favor."
I know my Spanish is as good as an elephant in a China shop but somehow I always manage to get the right thing when I order that way.
Lalo's is excellent. I love that they have the black bean option and all their chicken is from the breast. No dark meat here. Everything always tastes super fresh and non-greasy. Kelly and I shared our feeding frenzy and I had never had their carne asada. It was excellent and non-fatty, seasoned perfect and tender. My burrito is always good, because it's what I always get: A black bean vegetarian burrito (all their black bean stuff comes in whole wheat tortillas!) and if I'm feeling froggy, I get me some chicken in that monster.
They have a pretty excellent salsa bar also, perfect for several different types of tastes. Go here. The staff is friendly, the food is excellent, and the atmosphere is inviting. They also have a pretty sweet deal on Tuesdays for dining out in Hillcrest. Do it, do it now!!!!
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Sarah and I venture around the block after the Elite party. Alibi, ehhh, doesn't hit the spot.
I say we partake in 2 of our favorite acivities, taco shop and gossip.
We are greeted warmly by the staff upon entry, who inquire about our outfits.
Sarah and I are wasted off free martinis from Dish, so surprising.
My speech turns from English to something between that and Spanish when I have had too many drinks. And once I'm on a roll ordering in Spanish, I just can't stop!!!!!
Once we are seated we realize the amount of food in front of us. I skip the nachos and burrito and head straight for the chips and bottle of hot sauce, seems to do the trick.
We start texting the Magic 8 Ball questions about boys and the gossip train is on a roll.
That was some damn impressive taco shop grub.
Magic 8 Ball, you crack me up. (text a question to 242242)
Sarah, it's legal for us to get married in California now, but I still won't put out.
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I love this place! The food is good, cheap, fast and open late at night. I can't say one back thing about this place. I recommend the lobster bowl. I rarely eat seafood at any fast food restaurant, but I come back for this every time.
Never have trouble finding parking here, there's always a place to sit and they take credit card. Tip: The staff is super friendly if you're friendly first. At least that's been my experience.
I have never been here drunk like most other yelpers, but now that I think about it, it's a spot-on idea! But I am here to vouch for the fact that it is just as good pre-alcohol poisoning as it is post.
5 stars for the pastor being THE BEST I personally have ever had. It is so so so good. I get the pastor bowl, which I share with my toddler and I still have enough left over for a little snacky snack.
Their green salsa kicks ass, but still isn't AS good as Zarapes.
Just don't eat the peppers. Esta muy caliente! or however the hell you say "they are very hot".
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At first bite, I didn't think I'd like the carne asada on my California burrito.
Second bite...hmm...it's okay. Gee, look at the seasoning on it!
Third bite...this is the really pretty darn tasty stuff! Gobble! Snarf! Bite!
They don't use French fries in their California burrito; they use chunks of crispy hash brown potatoes and it works well. The tortilla was tasty, too, and I liked that I didn't end up with drippy sauce. The flavor was consistent throughout.
Yay!
Ever find yourself in any of these 3 scenarios?
1) You're piled in the back of a cab with your tipsy buddies, 1:40 a.m., looking for something, anything, to soak up the five cocktails you just downed in a three-hour period with nothing in your stomach
2) You're practicing the shuffle of shame on a late Sunday morning, hung over and hiding under shades and a ball cap, starving because you forgot to eat something before passing out the night before, when you downed those five cocktails in a three-hour period with nothing in your stomach
3) You're craving a burrito, but afraid to give in because it's not the healthiest choice ... then you convince yourself it just might be if only you could replace that glue-in-your-intestines white flour tortilla with a WHOLE WHEAT one!!
Suffice it to say, I've been in each of these 3 scenarios (more times than I'd like to count), and Lalo's has always fit the bill. So, one star for each.
Don't go expecting the best casual Mexican food in existence. And in return, Lalo's won't expect much out of you.
The head owner/manager guy always behind the counter does look kinda mean, yes, but in my estimation it's because he is ALWAYS there. Never not there. Seven days a week -- breakfast, lunch and dinner -- he opens the place up early in the morning and closes in the wee hours.
That is one hardworking dude. He's earned the right to stare down your hung-over ass hobbling in.
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This place is really fresh. I like it way better than La Fuente, but have had to succumb to La Fuente due to Lalo's closing early. But seriously, if your going to get wasted and need good Mexican food after, then come here.
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I can't say anything about the meat dishes here but the veggie ones are great. The vegetarian burrito is amazing, but make sure you tell them you want guac on it. Delicious, not too heavy or greasy, wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla. The best part about this place is that they don't use lard in their chips, beans, or tortillas. Definitely veggie-friendly.
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Lalo's has slowly become one of my favorite taco places in the neighborhood. I feel like the food quality is pretty good based on what I usually get (I really like the rotiserie chicken, but the potato tacos and the shrimp burrito were also good when I got them). I feel like the price is good for the quality. It's usually not too crowded and they're fairly quick. And it's pretty easy to park since it's in a little strip mall. Also, they're open pretty late on weekends (2 or 3 am I think). I would go to El Zarape more, but it's impossible to park and they're always packed, so Lalo's kind of wins out by default.
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ahhhhhh! Probably my first mistake was ordering a fish burrito, but anyway thats not the important part. Well it was pretty nasty but the reason they get one star is that there was a bone in my burrito. Not a fish bone, but a chopped bone. SCARY. NASTY. SICKOOOO
wanted to puke. the fish burrito and chips werent good either. im sure a cheese quesadila is probably fine but I wouldnt recommend this place at all. go next door to the sushi place and get a cucumber avocado roll instead.
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Don't bother. I knew it probably wouldn't be good, but I was starving, it was right on the way home and they take plastic. I got some rolled tacos and a black bean veggie burrito. The one star I am giving (since the first star is a defualt star) is because the rolled tacos weren't bad. A little bland, but had an okay crunch and there were actual chunks of avocado in the guac. Fine.
But the burrito? Blech. Saltier than Chipotle and that's not an easy feat. Also, I specifically ordered the black bean veggie burrito and not the black bean & cheese burrito. What did I get? A black bean and cheese burrito with a tablespoon of rice. And a tablespoon of salt. Seriously, it was crap.
The salsa bar is pathetic and they charge for hot carrots. Not that I even like hot carrots, but I know for a fact that many places have them free on their *good* salsa bars. And I hate places that have dine-in seating, but still make you pay for chips and salsa. Dude. Come on.
Yeah, Lalo's isn't expensive - I mean it's pricier than a stand alone shack, but it's definitely cheaper than Chipotle. But it's not worth it.
I leave reviews for places after a single visit if I know for a fact that I will or will not be back. For Lalo's? Pass.
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So I just read thru the postings about Lalo's and had to add my 2 cents. I used to eat there all the time before the expansion. As I work in the area again I have gone there several times in the last year and my last experiences have been poor. The one guy who works the front counter looks and acts like he just got out of prison and stares everyone down like he needs to intimidate them or else he might get jumped by one of "the gays" cuz he's got a purty mouth. All kidding aside, he's kinda intimidating.
Tried the carne asada the last two visits, it was so bland and tough that I could barely eat it and worse the second time. Hey everyone has bad days so I gave it another shot. I'm only giving it 2 stars becouse of fond memories
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This place is open till late at night (past 10 pm I think which is great when you just got in from the airport). I like coming here because there are healthier options for mexican food - you can get your burritos wrapped in whole wheat tortilla, they have a sign stating that they use canola oil, which is healthier for you. And their vegetarian burrito with black beans and veggies is quite good when I feel like having more vegetables in my burritos. They also offer grilled fish tacos too if you're trying to avoid battered fried fish tacos. Clean place, lots of seats!
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I use to like Lalo's. Then I hated Lalo's. Then I LOVED Lalo's. Now...meh.
When I first started going, there was one guy who worked in the front who had a consistently crappy attitude. The food was okay, but not worth it with bad service.
Then Lalo's expanded. At first I was sad, because they took over the spot next door which housed the place that Suz got her professional photos printed. Once Lalo's expanded, however, the food quality and customer service went way up. We started eating there pretty frequently. The burritos were large, and the food was not only tasty, but good (for the type of place) quality. The place was busy all the time, witht a full house at lunch and dinner.
Then the burritos started getting "padded". Where there used to be a lot of meat, there was now a lot of lettuce. I tried to get around it by ordering burriotos with no lettuce. It worked for a second, then I just got small burritos. Then the burritos started getting smaller even With the lettuce. Well, they still filled me up, and the quality was good.
Not long after, the quality of, specifically, carne asada started to slip. It has progressively worse to the point that, today, I have eaten my last carne asada burrito at Lalo's. I did not have one bite that wasn't mostly gristle and fat. My stomach feels like I ate a brick burrito. Plus, during my last few visits, the burritos have been wrapped so loosely that they fell apart on first bite. Gristly+Messy=grrr
Now, I can't speak for their other food. And the staff is still great, the place is still clean. And so far I haven't had food poisoning. (I've had food poisoning 3 times from carne asada at various locations over the years. It's a surprise that I even like it anymore.)
When they first remodeled I would have given them five stars easily. Minus one for padding, minus one for lower quality carne.
(Oh, and I forgot to mention they have pozole. But when I asked if I could taste it, she said they don't warm it up until someone orders it.)
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Such a wonderful little find!! I stumbled upon it one evening when a friend when everything else seemed closed. I'm so glad I did! The Flauta's are FLAWLESS. They are perfectly prepared with the proper amount of crisp and flavors. And they go incredibly well with the beans and the rice. Yum, I'm getting hungry just thinking about them.
The menu is incredibly well priced allowing someone like me (who loves a variety of foods) to sample numerous items from the menu without it breaking me.
I definitely recommend this place if you're in the neighborhood. It is seriously delicious.
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I have been boycotting Bland City ever since I ordered a burrito Supreme (thinking I would get a larger size) and instead got the same wimpy size but with a glop of slop on top. Bleh. Even their fries are bland.
Since when is a Mexican restaurant this tasteless?
Skip it always.
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Fabulous inexpensive mexican food ! They have THE best black bean & cheese burrito on a whole wheat tortilla. With horchata it is a purrfect lunch/dinner. The service is quick & efficient. The place is very casual,the walls are painted really nicely w/ art.
Highly reccomend when craving mex.food in Hillcrest.
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Oh man, I love their potato rolled tacos so much! They are crunchy and smothered in guacamole, shredded lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. Mmm mmm, good! The fish tacos are really delicious too. Five star food. It's better than El Zarape, which seems to have a bigger fan base. If you like El Zarape, I bet you will love Lalo's.
Lalo's has expanded their seating and their hours. They are now open until at least 1am and until 3am on the weekend.
However, there is room for improvement. Here is a customer service tip: When you are taking a customer's order, don't start having a lengthy conversation with a co-worker. Focus, people!
Food: A+
Service: C-
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Ehg. It's basic mexican food. Nothing special, just a regular taco shop. Some of my meat here has been gritty, both the pork and the chicken. So I stick the the vegetarian options.
Basically it's a place to go when no other places are open. Translation: it's better than La Fuente after last call and there's not a huge line.
Lalo's, why do I love thee???
Mostly your employees. They are wonderful, helpful, and good people.
You have good food (though not the BEST TACO SHOP IN SAN DIEGO ... noone is allowed to claim that) too.
Potato Tacos.
Yum
I love you.
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In a city where most restaurants' prices are based on the latest increase in rent, it's nice to find combination of homestyle quality and sane pricing all in one establishment.
A surprisingly upscale example of this is Lalo's.
Don't come here expecting hard-core authentic dishes straight from Mexico. This is more of an upscale (fill-in-the-blank)-bertos joint with a "JBX" treatment.
San Diego's indigenous favorite, Carne Asada Fries, will only set you back about $5--a dollar or two less than... well, everywhere else. Rather than the usual shoestring fries, the steak-fry-cut potatoes look as if they were cut by hand and left unpeeled intentionally. The skin adds a nice touch to the whole meal.
Their sides (beans in particular) carry more flavor than one expects from a typical example of Mexican "to-go" grub. I'm guessing they're seasoned with celery seed. Yum :-)
Though nothing here can be considered bland, some selections are a tiny bit on the salty side. Though it should be no problem for a partcularly well-hydrated patron, most of us would feel a bit bloated after eating some of the saucier selections.
With the solid promise of flavor and an ample menu, this place should offer a nice alternative to the thousands of rolled-taco huts populating SD.
If only they stayed open until the "ugly lights" turned on at nightclubs after last call :-(
Anybody who's lived in or hung out in Hillcrest for a long time knows that Lalo's has gone through several incarnations. The current one is very good, and has been consistent for the past couple of years.
Best bet in my book is the grilled chicken burrito with guacamole. You get white meat chicken, lettuce, salsa, and guacamole. The tortillas are good, too. Add a side of refried (fat free except for a bit of cheese) beans and you've got a good, filling, reasonably healthy meal.
Good salsa bar (but if you want hot carrots, you gotta pay for `em), good kids plates, and spotlessly clean - including the bathroom.
My only complaint with Lalo's is their carne asada...I know it's somewhere in the carne asada burrito, burried under all the salsa and lettuce, but I can't FIND it...
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lalos got to love going anytime im in hillcrest. I would say the best fast mexican food in the area. price is good and the wet carne asada burrito is excellent. thats all i always get there carne asada is definately 5 stars. love the horchata too. good place stop in service is usually fast too maybe about a 3-5 minute wait and thats it. very friendly service inside too,
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while browsing the next-door Blockbuster for a B-side Rom-edy i noticed something...first it was very small and peculiar...then it grew and grew and grew until i could no longer control it...
turns out my inner monster called "Hunger" had broken loose from it's Pit of Doom and was reeking havoc upon my body...Something was to be done quickly if I didn't want to fall victim to an ass-whoopin' from a make-believe monster in the middle of the Hillcrest Blockbuster all while clutching a tear-jerking-laugh-getter featuring Greg Kinnear...never know what the patrons of HC Blockbuster would do to an incapacitated good-looking guy like myself... *shivers* thats some freaky stuff bro...
anyways I bolted 30ft out the door and to the right...smack dab into Lalo's...now I don't know what Lalo's means but i know how it smells...and it smelled to me like a good time waiting to happen...
all I know is 8 minutes and 6 dollars later i was walking out the door with a shrimp burrito packing enough firepower to slay the Hunger Dragon and anyone standing downwind of me...
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all stories aside...just an average burrito store to me...decent prices...decent food...prompt and good service...thanks guys...when the need arises i will be back...
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Excellent, reasonably-priced mexican fare. My favorite dish is the deluxe carne asada quesadilla. I'm a sucker for their fish taco which is very good in a sort of high-school cafeteria kind of a way (the fish is prepared kind of like a fish finger, but that's meant to be a complement of sorts). I would give it 5 stars, but I've had too many average dishes there. The price is right, and their salsa verde is top-notch. You won't be blown away, but you won't be disappointed either.
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Lalos is a great compromise for the BF and I.
He gets a California burrito filled with potatoes, carne asada, cheese, and extra guacamole. Fresh but fatty goodness for him.
I'll usually get a grilled chicken burrito filled with white meat chicken, lettuce, and fresh salsa. Fresh and healthy fare for me.
Indulgence for him. No guilt for me. No fighting means a happy relationship. This is why we love LaLo's.
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SO I've been going to Lalos for over 10 years and I gotta say, although it has a few short comings, overall, it is dependable for quality and consistency! Healthier then your typical taco shop, I reccomend it for no lard, all fresh burritos!
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It's not bad, but not the best. Proximity, to me, is probably one of the main reasons I stop off here from time to time.
Standouts include their carnitas burrito (with whole pinto beans) and their chicken mole burrito (topped with mole sauce at no additional charge, which is a nice touch). Their nachos unfortunately aren't the greatest, as they tend to skimp on the meat, so you're probably better off just ordering them vegetarian.
Tuesdays between 5-9pm you can get fish tacos for $1.50 each. They also have a salsa bar. Credit cards accepted. Open late most nights.
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I love Lalo's. The quality is consistently great. My only complaint is that I have made the mistake of ordering their super burrito twice thinking it will have sour cream and guac(you know like up north in the bay area!) and it simply is a wet burrito. Their veggie burrito is lame and boring. Try the pastor or fish tacos (great stuff!) I agree that their fries are wack.
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Good food. I love their burritos. They are fresh and the chicken is bomb there. The service is pretty fast. I love that when you order a super burrito they throw in all the goodies. Sour Cream, Guac, Red Sauce (makes it nice and wet) and the cheese on top. It's good food at good prices. Not very greasy either. Check it out if you get a chance. You will either think it's ok or it's good. I think it's good. Nice sit down area to eat your food too. Can't really complain for the price.
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