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As I walked out in Laredo one day
I spied a hot taco wrapped up in tortilla
All wrapped in tortilla as warm as the day...
The excellent alimentos at Laredo Taqueria are no secret, especially at this location on Washington, where the lines wrapping around the colorful building of a Saturday morning are testament to its appeal. The breakfast tacos are a main attraction, and the eggs and bacon or potato are delicious on homemade tortillas slathered with refried beans, but you would be missing out if you just stuck to these basics. The barbacoa (cow cheek) and nopalitos (cactus) are exquisite, and showcase the authentic Mexican fare on offer.
At lunch or dinner, again, you could get some excellent fajita steak or chicken, but give some of the other options a whirl. The calabaza pollo features tender chicken with soft, flavorful squash wrapped in one of their excellent tortillas, the pollo en mole coats that same tender chicken in mole sauce blending various peppers with that magical (not-so-)secret ingredient, Mexican bittersweet chocolate. I can't ever pass up a pulled pork taco, and the asado de puerco delivers tender braised pork in an ancho and guajillo chile sauce. The flavors at work in the dishes at Laredo Taqueria are as varied as Joseph's Technicolor Dreamcoat. They feature prominently in my dreams, at least. Particularly those bender fueled vision quests. Y cuando me despierto crudo, I head to Laredo.
The no-frills approach lets you simply walk up to the counter, place your order, and sit down where a friendly mesera will take your drink order and bring you a couple of sauces. This means tacos average out at around $1.50 a pop, and with 2 filling you up and 3 being plenty, you can easily get out of here under $5. Perfecto.
Once in the saddle I used to par-tay
First lead to drinkin', and then to card-playing
I'm drunk in the head and I'm hungry today
Holy hangover, Batman - why is there not one of these where I live?! I don't get to do breakfast tacos very often, but I'm so glad I tried them out this weekend. Definitely more of a 4.5 star place, but we'll err on the side of 4 instead.
After indulging in a few (ok, 6) adult beverages the night before, my friend & I needed greasy breakfast food ASAP. My friend mentioned she had seen a place up the road that was supposed to be good and there was always a line out the door. We were hungry, but figured it'd be worth the wait anyway, so off we went.
It took us a few minutes to park since the parking lot is tiny, packed, and a tight squeeze no matter which way you cut it. We ended up at a lot across the street, but no biggie. We could smell the goodness from the moment we stepped out of the car... yes! I knew we were in good shape when, upon walking up to one of the doors, I spotted a bright, red Yelp sticker. Score - this bodes well! If that wasn't enough, there was in fact a line nearly out the door once we got there and most everyone appeared to be locals, which is always a good sign.
In total, I think we were in line for around 15 minutes before we hit the counter area. That gave us plenty of time to decide what we wanted, so it was time well spent. The inside isn't much to look at: just the order counter and some tables & chairs. We weren't dining in today, but I wouldn't be opposed to it upon another visit, either.
As I mentioned before, we were famished, so we immediately knew we'd be going overboard on our orders. I went for the Chorizo, the Huevos Mexicano (spicy eggs), and the Pappas Mexicano (spicy potatoes) tacos, all with cheese. I figured the cheese would be tossed on lightly, but I was seriously mistaken. One of the workers slathered on grated cheese that slowly melted against the hot ingrediants. Oh. My. Gawd. This is going to be artery clogging goodness!!
We were handed a warm paper bag and ushered to the cash registered. For $12 even, the two of us got 3 large & stuffed-to-the-brim tacos each. We scampered out to the car and ran before they realized how little they charged us, mwhaha! Minutes later, we were home and unwrapping our tasty treasures. I tore into the Chorizo taco first and was not disappointed. There was plenty of tasty chorizo and beans, all topped with gooey cheese. I enjoyed the Huevos Mexicano, though thats probably one I could reproduce at home on my own. Pretty tasty, though. Still, the Pappas Mexicano was my favorite, hands down. The potatoes were soft and had plenty of spice - add on that cheese & forget about it... The tortillas were soft and warm, though I may go for the corn ones next time.
Oh, and two kinds of salsas were included, too. We each received one red and one green type and both were hot, hot, hot! Now, I adore spicy food, but even I had to be careful with how much salsa I used on my tacos. After the tacos were demolished, we broke out some tortilla chips and used those to finish off the remainder of the salsas. Perfection.
The only thing keeping this from being a full 5 stars is the long wait. Sure, it was worth it, but it was nearly torture to smell everything for so long before it was ready to go. In case you couldn't tell, I'll be back at this place upon my next visit to Houston, long line be damned :)
heard about this place from my coworkers. I work in construction first of all with yes lots of Hispanics and every morning we all stop at Laredo for some tacos. now this may not mean much to most since you will notice right away that lots locals from the area frequent the place and if you happen to stop in the right time of day the line will be short.
It's also important that I state that I am from richmond,Tx. home of where guy fiere visited our pride and joy Bob's tacos. Bob's tacos is also known for their breakfast tacos. the two are different tacos though, I like the type of meat used at bobs but its very little meat/egg ratio at bobs and its almost flavorless until you pour a whole can of red sauce hmm that red sauce does not taste good alone but once poured on a bob taco you have a whole different kind of beast and its not spicy either.
Why i like Laredo. Laredo has from what it looks like soft home made tortillas, these alone are worth the taco since they start at 1.50 tax included. they offer various choices of tacos and traditional Mexican dishes (which i usually ignore to look at) on some days they offer menudo which is very rare in most Mexican restaurants except for the Taqueria inside meat markets. for 1.50 you can get egg with chorizo, egg with bacon or upgrade to tacos de barbacoa or spicy chicken these are all good to me for 50 cents more, these guys don't skimp on the meat either.
Once its finally your turn to order speak quick because you'll hold up the line. the lady will slap your warm tortilla with beans and your choice of toppings but only whats laying out in front of you or on the menu the way its written, like the sign reads "this isn't burger king, its our way or no way" The lady will then wrap your tacos in aluminum foil with 2 different hot sauces and you're good to go.If you're in a mood to go all out try their juices agua de orchata is worth a try if you've never tried it, sure cleanses the pallet after pouring too much hot sauce on a taco.
Laredo Taqueria or bobs tacos? well, for me at least since i am $$$ conscious about where my hard earned bucks go Laredo offers the best bang per buck. but when i visit my parents in Richmond I wouldn't mind a bob taco either
tips for first timers...Avoid early mornings, especially Sunday, lots of people line up to feed their family for breakfast so bring your phone fully charged to text message your friends at 8am in the morning to pass the time. Or maybe make a new friend waiting in line.
The tacos at Laredo are very good. I tried the fajita, spicy fajita, barbacoa, and some kind of pork taco and they were all excellent. My favorite however was the pollo en mole taco, which I thought was excellent. Overall the food is very tasty and I can't really complain about anything I've ordered.
That being said, the restaurant as a whole feels a little full of itself...the tacos are good, but not that good.
Laredo's is like my kitchen. I'm probably more here then I am my own house.
They have some serious good tacos, and the place feels madd comfortable. Lupe, and Rosa, and Adriana are my favourite people there. They always recognize me and give me the best service!
They are always super busy around lunch and breakfast time, so I usually go after 2, just to avoid waiting in line.
I usually get the Chicken & Squash tacos I highly recomment them, they're my favourite. Breakfast tacos kill it too though, pretty much everything is off tha hook
DON'T FORGET TO TIP!
It should be known now that I am a fan of the Taqueria.
When walking into Laredo Taqueria I immediately thought of the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. I knew there was a system and by the massive amount of instructional signage I was terrified of it.
The best kind of Taqueria are the ones where the staff speaks little to no English ... but this wasn't going to help me here. I had so many questions to ask! It was 2pm .. could I still get a breakfast taco? How spicy IS the spicy fajita .... what was this colored concoction that everyone in front of me is ordering???
In the end when I got up there I just ordered some recognizable things off the menu board and pointed to a few more. I went with the spicy fajita which was VERY spicy ... passed that to the bf. A carne guisada which was DELICIOUS!
and finally I thought I would channel my inner Anthony Bourdain and try the Chicharon ... bad idea. SO gross ... the texture is literally that of pure fat. I couldn't deal, FAIL. I guess I should leave the pork to the professionals.
I would like to go back for further judging but first time around it was very authentic and pretty good!
There is something very satisfying about eating 'where the locals eat'. You feel part of a club, gang, posse, it is a very cool, 'ha, I belong here ' feeling.
That said, I belong at Laredo Taqueria. The flour tortilla with egg, potato and cheese, the egg and chorizo, and the flower flavored water will get you ready for any day Houston can throw at you.
I love this place. I no longer live in the area (wah!) but whenever I'm in the area, I try my hardest to stop and get some tacos. Their breakfast tacos are delish (though a little more salt wouldn't hurt) and oh, how I miss their $1 tacos on the weekends where you had to get your foot in the door before 10a. It's 9:30a, church? Maybe next week. Let's rush to the Laredo before it's too late!
The torta, which is only sold on the weekend, is delicious. The fajita meat is cut into small strips in the morning, visible from the window while getting your breakfast taco on, and perfectly salted and heavenly. Their caldo is lacking Grandma's touch but stick to the tacos and you'll be good.
Yes, the long lines out the door are intimidating. Don't be cause your missing out! I did... cause I had loyalty to El Rey and I hate long lines. :hsugh:
I made the venture this morning and was determined to wait till I got my morning taco fix from what I heard was an epic hole-in-the-wall taco joint. Being terminally shy I grasped my book and read as I waited in line to block out the people around me till it was my turn. I glanced around each time as I turned the page and I really liked the environment and vibe of the restaurant. Although that washing station/sink on the right upon entering was an eyesore...I didn't lose my appitite..(hanging beaded curtains would fix that)
I ordered a couple of breakfast tacos and a cappuccino from the uber nice staff and was delighted with their prices... not to mention their tacos are f'ing yum!
I know when I come back and try the nopales this place will be bumped up to 5 stars.
I mean, if you are hungry for breakfast tacos this is your place.
It is usually packed on the weekends so make sure to either get there early or enjoy your time in line. The line moves fast, but if you are hungover... nothing moves fast enough.
The chorizo and egg is crazy good, and the ground beef and potato is also a star. The only thing is, the barbacoa is a little bland... I mean seriously, no spices going on in there.
But honestly, great food, friendly staff, and incredibly cheap prices.
Wowee, these are amazing tacos and cheap too! I love getting their picadillos (beef and potato), spicy fajita, sausage, chicken and squash, barbacoa....yeah pretty much any of them.
I still haven't gotten around to trying out their plates, and I don't think their soups are anything special (they're good, but not remarkable)...but yeah any of those tacos..... I don't know how they infuse their tacos with all this extra flavor that other places don't, but its great!
btw every time I've gone, I've encountered a line, but its worth it!
I've been going here 10 years now, although the building look likes its been there 50+ years. And because of inflation, I can understand the raising of prices from $1.25 fajita tacos, to today's $2.00 per taco.. But I just went there to pick up lunch today, at 12pm noon, and I waited in that line for 30 mins.
Food quality has been A LOT better! The togo salsa cups are now 1/2 the size they used to be! They are STINGY with their salsa's.. The fajita meats today, were of poor poor quality, you can taste it. Bad meat, stingy salsa..
If you go for breakfast tacos, try out the sausage taco, probably the best taco there now, but sausage.. you can buy that anywhere.. probably eckerd sausage.. but its the salsas that make the taco.. which they are STINGY!
I don't think I will be going here for a LONG time.
UPDATE: The next day, I suffered the big D (..and not the first time, after this place)
I think this is deserving of my first 5.. still scary though.
Try the Melon flavored water. delicious.
I am a potato, egg and cheese bfast taco snob and these might be the best. ever.
This place has a line out the door every time I go by it. If you hit it for lunch do it early or wait till 2. Every thing I've tried has been great. Pretty cheap too. I almost didn't mention the aguas frescas.
This is BREAKFAST TACO HEAVEN!
I have been going here for years now...and it is BY FAR the BEST DEAL and BEST TASTING breakfast taco. EVERYTHING is good.
I always get 2 spicy fajita and 2 spicy sausage and am set right for the day.
The green jalapeno salsa is like no other I have experienced. It will cure what ails ya...nice and hot...great color...silky smooth. Could also be used as a weapon.
The red salsa is mouthwatering as well.
The line will snake around the building on busy mornings and lunches but they know what they are doing here...the line will keep moving ( it is totally worth the wait) and everyone gets fed for cheap.
The Nopales also made the list of tacos to eat before you die according to Texas Monthly. They are good. I like them with spicy mexican potatoes.
The thing that makes this place special is they have the best homemade tortillas! Perfection.
My only problem is they don't sell the stuff by the pound. What I wouldn't give for 5 lbs of fajita , 5 lbs of sausage to have at home...
We live in Austin now and we regularly come back to the old neighborhood for a fix.
The Frijoles ala charra are great. Nice heat. Plenty of onion, cilantro and peppers.
Huevos Rancheros...great.
It's all good and it's all dirt cheap. OOPs ... that line is getting longer!
Cheap eats, friendly dependable service, spicy fajitas, picadillo and a good cup of charro beans = perfect lunch spot. They also have a good selection of juices and mexican drinks. If you want chips and salsa, a margarita or Tex- mex, go somewhere else. If you want something more authentic try Laredo.
I nabbed some tacos here with Agustin S. today. I drive past this place all the time, but have somehow failed to notice it. I'm glad Agustin brought it to my attention!
It's hokey looking from the outside--the way a real taqueria should look. The paint color choice is bizarre. I think when it comes to taquerias you should question whether the building will crumble or not. It's not that bad. It's a fine building in fact. I'm just a little dramatic. A tad.
Inside is quite nice. I dig the ambiance. There is a line threatens to extend outside with each minute that passes around lunch time. So hurry up and know what you want when it's your turn at the taco counter under the pink, neon sign! If you're like me and like corn tortillas--you're going to hold up line. The upside is that you get piping fresh corn tortillas.
There is a lot to choose from on the menu. I sampled four different tacos (I told you it's an addiction!): Picada (potato and meat), spicy fajita, nopal, and barbacoa. My favorite was the Picada. I'm not usually crazy about these, but this one is especially good. The spicy fajita and barbacoa was solid and the nopal--it was o.k.
These tacos are a different breed from say the Arandas brand that are abundant around town. Most tacos follow the Arandas style. These were a new animal to me. They are somewhere between authentic and Tex-Mex. The line between the two is usually more defined.
The place itself has a great charm. The kitchen is like a factory. It's inspiring to look at. The fact that you can get breakfast tacos for lunch makes them the IHOP of taquerias in my eyes. Can't vouch for dinner though.
I'm anxious to get back to Laredo Taqueria. They have chicken mole tacos, but they are served after 1:30p.m. So guess what time I will be coming back?
This place defines authentic Mexican food in Houston. I love hole in the wall taquerias (NOT places like taqueria arandas), which was something I could find easily in San Antonio but had difficulty finding something equivalent in Houston.
Price: you can't beat it
Food: everything you could ask for. Barbacoa, nopales, chicharron, spicy beef fajita and plenty more for your tacos. Oh, can't forget the caldo de res. I haven't been here enough times to try out the other items on the menu, and I don't really care because their tacos are what I come here for.
This place is too far from me but whenever I go to the driving range at Memorial Park (with Mike Z), we always go here afterwards. The parking lot is horrible and I would recommend parking across the street, along with bringing somebody with you since this area is pretty shady.
Mmmmm. Thank you Houston for introducing me to the breakfast taco, and thank you Laredo for making it so tasty. Chorizo, potato, bacon... you really can't go wrong.
And then the regular tacos are awesome too. I'd never had fideos and chicken in a tortilla before, but I liked it. Barbacoa is probably my favorite. Sometimes I don't mind the wait in line because it gives me a chance to decide what to try.
Just mentioning the possibility of getting food here on a weekend morning/afternoon will make me ignore my hangover and be first to jump in the car.
Awesome, awesome breakfast tacos. Love the barbacoa and the nopales.
Unfortunately, the secret is out. The lines are long and something about the flow is a little awkward (counter service, but a waitress gets your drink and brings you the salsa).
After keeping an eye on Sergio S. Taco Addiction List, I saw he had paid a visit to my barrio with his review of El Tiempo Market. There were other places I thought he would like to visit in the area and I thought I would shoot him a PM and see if he was up for lunch.
The taco selection is outstanding. If you can put it in a tortilla it's going to be in the steam table. These lines get long and parking can be hell, so I would recommend getting there early. You will have plenty of time to look at the menu as you wait in line. When the moment of truth arrives you better know what to order. They just might pass you up if you stumble or ask any questions about the menu. I would suggest asking someone in line with you because odds are they are very familiar with the whole concept. On this day I did Spicy Fajita, chopped fajita and jalapeno with onion and with refried beans. The other Taco I had was the Pollo y Calabasa, (chicken & squash) with refried beans. I have lunch a lot so I've tried almost all of the tacos here. There are others I would recommend the Mole and Chicken taco, Fidello con Pollo Taco, Picadillo Taco. I think you understand where I'm coming from, the selection is huge. They have a nice selection of Agua's, my favorite is the Horchata. They also have the best breakfast tacos in town. Pick one up on your way to work, or if your running late pick some up for the office. The boss won't even remember you were late
The best part about Laredo Taqueria is you can get 3 tacos and and an agua for less than $6.00. The tacos are cheap and loaded, and you leave completely satisfied. You have probably driven past this location multiple times, you can't miss it. It's painted yellow with pink trim, talk about drawing attention to yourself. It can be easy to miss with the traffic parked out front during peak hours, breakfast and lunch.
These are the best tacos in town. The line is worth the wait. Order the corn tortillas when you get up to the front. They're awesome.
I've been here a bunch. Honestly, havent found a better breakfast taco for the price around Houston, yet, ok, maybe one other place. I'm still semi-new. The barbacoa here is awesome, some of the spicier tacos are on fire. On the weekends the line will be out the door. I have waited about 10 minutes in line at times, well worth the wait anyhow. Horchata here is definitely on key! A great taco house.
freakin awesome. i'm trying to find a place that has this quality and a little cheaper. BUT the quality of just plain good breakfast tacos is here. i was really amazed to see the people out the door and it's well worth it. i like that it's the atmosphere that you want to expect to get these good tacos. great stuff!!
Breakfast tacos rock! I had the nopales, chorizo, pollo, beef fajitas, and spicy fajitas. The beef fajitas were by far the best. For about $1.50 each on maiz tortillas, they're a decent deal.
On a Saturday, the place was packed. You can get menundo on weekends, though I didn't try it this time, which may explain the crowd.
I was introducted to this taco dive in 2000 and I've never looked back. Breakfast is insane. Lines out the door. Beat up old Chevy's parked next to Bavarian sportscars. Dickies in line with Armani Exchange. They're all here for the tacos. The breakfast tacos are great and all that but my favorites are the spicy fajita (no beans on a corn tortilla) and the chicken mole tacos (with beans on a flour tortilla). Oh, and the cactus tacos are really tasty too. The tacos are served with red and green salsas. I prefer the oh-so-spicy green sauce over the red (they usually don't serve green sauce at breakfast-- argh!). I'm so enamoured of the green, I have made special trips to purchase the sauce on my way home in the evening (25 cents for a little plastic cupfull--I usually get 4) to have alongside my breakfast tacos in the morning. Crazy, right? They have lots of fun bottled Mexican sodas as well as Mexican Coca-Cola (which is made with beet sugar instead of corn syrup-- way better than the stuff you buy at the grocery store or get fountain-style). The decor is pretty loud (peptol bis pink) with tons of pinatas and flags about and there is always some Mexican soap opera on TV so if you're into something a little more serene, you can always get your tacos to go. I'm not sure how long this place has been around but I am not alone in hoping (regardless of how upscale the neighborhood gets) it stays around for a long time to come.
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