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Maria's Mexican Taco's
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
34 reviews for Maria's Mexican Taco's
Review Highlights
"Free chips and salsa sweeten the deal too."
(in 2 reviews)
"The Al Pastor was good as well as the Carne Asada."
(in 4 reviews)
"this is by far the best Mexican food within 30 miles."
(in 3 reviews)
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34 reviews in English
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Review from Brittany R.
Antelope, CA
8/15/2011
Hard pressed to find a good taco in Auburn I am incredibly glad we ate here!
Casual taqueria feel with a great add-on store area with Carniceria staples.
Authentic Mexican style taco's are a breath of fresh air in this town. -
Review from Jeff M.
Auburn, CA
1/31/2012
Went here for lunch last week after having several friends recommend it. I've been going to El Portal across the street so I figured I'd try this. I wasn't impressed. It was a rainy day and it wasn't heated inside, It was small so there weren't many tables to choose from, and the food was really pretty bland. While the carnitas tasted ok, the burrito I had wasn't warm and the rest of the burrito contents weren't good. My lunch-mate had al pastor and that was much worse than mine. From past experience I would expect it to be more flavorful and a bit spicy. It was neither of these and we both agreed that while the carnitas was ok, this place was not nearly as good as El Portal.
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Review from Mellisa C.
Auburn, CA
12/10/2011
Not sure what that guy is talking about. Food is great. Service is great. Best Mexican moon milk in the county. Horchata alotta. I heart Maria, wish she was my grandma!
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Review from Dee D.
San Francisco, CA
6/1/2011
Coming from the SF bay area with lots of good mexican restaurants, this place is by far THE only place to go if you're craving mexican food. The tacos rock, my fav anything pastor!!!! Prices are decent and portions too.
I agree with the other reviewers, chips and salsa should be included even with take-out. -
Review from Matt H.
Nevada City, CA
3/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I drive 30 minutes from Nevada City to get Mexican food at Maria's Mexican Taco's. There is nothing in the Grass Valley/Nevada CIty area that comes close to comparing with this place. Maria makes awesome Posole, though it's not on the menu every day. The soup of the day tends to change often as well which is nice. The food is authentic and the portions are good. It reminds me of the taqueria's that I patron when I'm in San Francisco and southern California. I love the sopes here as well. They are AWESOME!
Watch out for the hot salsa. It's for real. Go mild unless you know that you can handle 5-alarm salsa.
This place is right up there with the best taqueria's in the Mission in SF, hence the highest rating. I feel lucky to have a place like this within 30 minutes of my house. We have it good here in CA when it comes to Mexican food. :) -
Review from Blake S.
Oakland, CA
11/27/2011
They don't get 5 stars because it's fancy, they get 5 stars because the food was great, the atmosphere homey, and owners, very friendly. They care a lot, and even caught a mistake in our order that we let slide. Very good home style El Pastor, outside seating and a number of grocery items inside with seating. Don't be scared away by the appearance from the parking lot. They are unfortunately adjoined to a defunct Poker room but once you enter the restaurant, which is along the side, the mood immediately changed. We almost ignored the reviews and left, but we are so happy we stayed. Too bad we live so far away, but I guarantee the next time we pass through, we're stopping, hungry or not.
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Review from David G.
Colfax, CA
3/12/2011
Burritos are not very big for a taqueria. The Burrito Shop on the other side of the freeway has much bigger burrito's. The Salsa bar doesn't have as many options as I am used to. The other problem with the salsa bar is that they charge you for chips and salsa if you're not eating there. The flavor is really good but I feel like I get nickle and dimed whenever I go there. The burrito's are on the expensive side and are smaller than average, I get charged for chips and salsa (take-out), and they charge for debit/credit. If you want to take extra salsa for your burrito......Get ready to pay up, even if you already purchased chips and salsa. If you decide to have mexican food for lunch and only have time to stop in and pick it up your tab might look something like this.......
Super burrito: $7.50
Extra Meat: $1.00
Chip's & Salsa: $1.75
Extra Salsa (or you WILL run out): $.50
Credit/Debit Fee: $.75
We're talking $12.39 after tax for your standard burrito for lunch. I have regularly eaten at taquerias for less than HALF the price for all you see listed and even a BIGGER burrito. (compared to La Fiesta Natomas) and others.
So If you're looking to pay restaurant prices and have a "sit down" meal this place might be very fitting for you. Maria's is really not too concerned about catering to the hurry in and out type of customers, so if you're used to going to a walk up taqueria or a taco truck with walk up or taco truck prices, don't expect to find that here. I subtracted 1.5 stars because price & they charge for chips & salsa (take-out), another .5 star for portions, and another star because I have just had much better. Add 1 star for flavor. -
Review from Patrick W.
Reno, NV
5/7/2011
Delicious, but WATCH YOUR CREDIT CARD!!!!
We love Maria's food and have eaten here multiple times, but the last time we did, we have very good reason to believe someone associated with the restaurant stole our credit card information and used it in a string of 12 purchases stretching from Auburn to West Sacramento over a 24 hour period after we dined there. If you eat here, pay cash only!! -
Review from Misha T.
10/29/2009
Daaaaaaaaaaaamnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if you're going to tahoe, go there. Maria is a sweetheart and she makes the best sopes i've ever had. If you're nice she might even hook you up with one of her awesome "fluffy tacos" (think taco bell chalupa but way more awesome)
fo real tho, fantastic carnitas, nuts portions, and best sopes around
go there, eat well, chat with maria, and tell your friends -
Review from Bryan M.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 2/11/2010
Dear Al Pastor Burrito with Cheese,
I love you. I am dreaming of your juices and meat stacks as I stare at my computer screens. You are the gateway to my fun filled Tahoe weekends and keep me going during those long days and nights.
Love,
Bryan2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/9/2009
A woman who I believe was Maria: "This is the third time that you have ordered and El Pastor… Read more »
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Review from Ryan G.
San Francisco, CA
6/24/2008
Bye, bye tourist trap Ikeda's. You use to be the mandatory stop on the way to Tahoe, but the days of your good food are long gone. Now Maria's has taken your place. Not anywhere near all the insanity of travelers gassing up and getting food. Maria's has a hospitable, fun environment with both indoor and outdoor seating. And serves up some tasty Mexican food.
Love coming in here and seeing the long list of meats you can have in your burrito. Beyond the standard chicken, pork and beef. You also can have lengua, cabesa and a few choice others. You can even mix the different types of meat. Next time you are at Chipotle or even your favorite spot, try ordering a face, tongue pulled pork burrito! -
Review from Gerardo C.
San Francisco, CA
4/11/2011
Amazing tacos, burritos (carnitas) and quesadillas! My friend as I live near the Mission in SF and we give it two thumbs up. A great stop on the way home from Tahoe.
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Review from Matt B.
Sacramento, CA
4/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
This was a random visit after a hard days skiing up in the Sierra's and my first impression was that is was a good find. The food seemed to good until I was chewing into my carnitas burrito and came across a crunchy item. I sifted through the food in my mouth to find a prawn tail...not something you expect and defintely don't want to experience again!
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Review from Scott F.
Auburn, CA
4/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
My wife and I ate here the other night for dinner. I would recommend this place to everyone. Great food and great customer service.
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Review from Bryan H.
Meadow Vista, CA
3/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I love this place :) yummy!! Maria is really nice too :) the service is awesome and fast! this is by far the best Mexican food within 30 miles. If this is your first time here . . .try the fish tacos they are amazing!
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Review from Martin S.
Point Reyes Station, CA
9/6/2008
Small portions and starting to become less authentic tasting (more "americanized") over time.
Those two reasons deducted two stars.
Nothing more to say about the place ... -
Review from Drew T.
4/12/2008 2 photos
Atmosphere is great, but the food is barely average. The chips are and salsa are free for dine-in customers only - and you will find out why. It looked like they grease fried their own tortilla chips but the 2 batches they brought out during my trip were cold and kind of soggy from all the oil. There wasn't a salsa bar, but there were two salsas on the table; a hot saucy kind and a pace picante kind.
I got a spicy veggie burrito and a lime jarritos.
A gay boy, maria's hijo (sp?), brought the food to our shellacked pic-nic table and it wasn't rolled right. I took it out of the foil wrapper, 'cause I have too many fillings to mess around with foil in my food, and it fell apart. I had to eat it with a fork :(
If that weren't bad enough, there wasn't any avocado in my burrito and there was very little cheese (my two favorite indulgences).
I do like that I can buy my laundry detergent here for cheap (hopefully it doesn't have any phosphates). I don't like that there is a freezer display case full of blood meats. It didn't look sanitary. This, in addition to their bad decor, only increased the "authentic" factor. I don't get why they need to have their giant tv on the golf channel? I mean, I like Tiger as much as anybody, but in a mexican restuarant I expect ranchero music blaring obnoxiously or having live mariachi interrupt your dinner conversations.
This might be great for the yokels, but I know better. I think people come here because they serve alcohol. I'd rather go to ikeda's for a burger or jimboys for something quick. -
Review from sally M.
San Carlos, CA
1/15/2011
Driving up for skiing the next day...late...needed food!...checked out Yelp...found Marias! It was 8:55 and they close at 9. They still served us and were nice to us. Gave us chips n salsa---YUMMY salsa btw! Had the carnitas burrito and it was fantastic!! Inhaled my burrito and it was a little slice of heaven! My friend had the carne asada....I liked the carnitas better--but I always do. Definately worth stopping for!
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Review from Kelly B.
Modesto, CA
1/19/2011
Mmm mmm tasty! I went here today on advice of a good friend, and I'm glad I did! The salsa was fresh and hot. The carne asada was perfect. I was so full I had to take my burrito home. I would come back if I'm in the Auburn area again.
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Review from Werner V.
Auburn, CA
3/15/2011 13 Check-ins Here
About the best Mexican food anywhere. The carnitas torta is beyond sensational!
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Review from Courtney S.
Auburn, CA
3/12/2011
Maria makes an excellent taco!
My husband and I have been here twice and thoroughly enjoyed the food. The first time, I ordered the regular chicken burrito, and my husband had two tacos (I don't remember which kinds).
The second time, I ordered a single barbacoa taco, and my husband had a regular carnitas burrito.
Both times the food was very simple and very, very good. The regular burritos are just meat, beans, salsa and lettuce. The meat is *always* incredibly moist and flavorful. If you order your food spicy, be aware that it actually *is* spicy. I have a fairly high spice tolerance and it was perfect for me.
I do not understand the previous reviewer who says that burritos are not very big. The regular is definitely a very good and filling size. They are smaller than the mega burritos you get in San Francisco taquerias, but they contain *no* rice filler, so they are very dense and satisfying. In fact normally I do not like lettuce with my burritos, but because there is no rice, the lettuce helps keep the burrito from being too dense.
The tacos are on typical sized Mexican corn tortillas (fairly small), but piled high with meat salsa and lettuce.
The chips and salsa that come with the meal (if you are eating there) are excellent. The chips are fresh and crisp, and the salsa is flavorful and just a little spicy. -
Review from Joy U.
Auburn, CA
8/30/2010
I come here on an off, as it's handy and (usually) fast.
Now, I don't think every restaurant needs to be fast. Dining should be an experience, not an excercise in inhalation.
But, every now and then, they are unusually slow, and this is why I deducted a star. Convenient, yes, authentic, yes, and always really yummy chips and salsa to munch while waiting. Good beer, too. -
Review from Warren A.
Elk Grove, CA
11/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
Stopped in here on our way back to Sacramento after a day of playing in the snow. Great authentic Mexican food. I had the carnitas combo plate and it was fantastic. If you are ever in the area stop in.
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Review from Alfred L.
Palo Alto, CA
3/29/2009
Maria's is just okay.
This is obviously a family-run restaurant, and the help here is always very friendly and willing to assist. I hear the owner, Maria, is an incredible woman as well. Unfortunately the food here is just mediocre and the kitchen is very slow. On two occasions I've waited over 20 minutes for my simple burrito order when there wasn't anybody else in the restaurant. I understand that Maria's is not fast food, but the wait still seemed silly to me.
I should also mention that the indoor seating is very uncomfortable. Take a seat while you are waiting for your food and you'll see what I mean. It's just an odd chair to sit in. I take my food to go if the weather is too nasty to sit at one of the picnic tables outside.
On a positive note, Maria's menu IS authentic and seems appropriately large with lots of different dishes and meats to choose from. The portions are nice and It's very affordable too, which I like. Maria's is also the only place you'll find real Horchata in Auburn. So, that's a big plus in my book!
This place has some issues. But it's a decent lunch spot. I'll still eat here on occasion when I don't feel like trekking over the freeway to El Portal, which is my #1 choice for fast authentic Mexican food in Auburn. -
Review from Richard R.
Austin, TX
10/4/2010
Probably the best burritos in the area. Don't overload on the free chips and salsa. They're good, but those burritos are big.
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Review from Vince R.
Auburn, CA
12/29/2009
Chili Verde is great, sometimes huge good chunks of unrendered fat.. Yum! Chips are not the best but the selection of different salsa makes up for it. Kind of in the middle price wise.. Menudo is good here as well.
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Review from loyce s.
Auburn, CA
8/3/2005
Enjoy the perfect blend of herbs spun into enticing dishes including fish tacos and vegetarian burrito, all served up by the indomitible Maria, who has added her own Mexican store to the Bowman location for those cooking enthusiasts. Bring your appetite.
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Review from ToAsTy T.
Pacifica, CA
3/30/2008
The full parking lot deceived me. I never knew this place existed until i was standing in the parking lot of Ikeda's staring at the hidden sign across the freeway.
So on the way back i decide to check it out. For an authentic mexican place this is the way i like it. Better feeling that my previous place at Incline Village, CA Los Mariachis Taqueria. I sat next to packages of Flan mix, some mexican jellos and tubs of lard for sale.
Normally in an area such as this, when asked 'mild or hot' for your tacos, i normally go hot since hot isn't usually so hot. And trying out their chips and salsa, the hot stuff wasn't all that flaming. When i get my tacos it had chile verde on it. Not thinking much i took a large bite and man o man talk about eyes tearing up, nose starting to run and breathing fire! They put the burn in Auburn!
The Al Pastor was good as well as the Carne Asada. The Carnitas wasn't as good as El Taco Loco in S.F. but it wasn't burnt or hard to chew, i liked it alot. Good sized meat makes it a 2-3 taco lunch and at 2$ a taco, thats quite good eats! -
Review from Kellee D.
Auburn, CA
6/26/2008
In general, I love Maria's! I am a huge fan of all things hot and spicy so it's nice to order a "spicy" taco and not have to smother it in hot sauce (although I still always add a Little...). They lose one star because a while back I had a pretty sad chimichanga and the memory and disappointment still lingers. Everything else I have tried has been great. And of course you won't ever go wrong with tacos.
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Review from Mark M.
Roseville, CA
1/3/2009
Great authentic style tacos. Order at the counter and wait for your order to be called. Good selection of mexican beverages. The red hot sauce has a great burn to it..don't miss it! Place is worn but rather comfortable with oversized wicker chairs and such. Small outdoor dining area is nice, but too many flies to enjoy a peaceful meal. Not easy to find if you're zipping by on 80....it's on opposite side of freeway, behind some shops next to bowling alley by Luther road.
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Review from Matt S.
Auburn, CA
2/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Maria's has great food. The best torta I have had.
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Review from Joel W.
Sacramento, CA
8/5/2009
Maria's is amazing!! I will drive up to Auburn once or twice a month just to go here. If you think you have had good carnitas before, think again. The carnitas super burrito is mind blowing, crispy, juicy, full of flavor...I want one just typing about it.
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Review from Ryan R.
Sacramento, CA
2/28/2009
best carnitas ever. get everything hot, not mild. no joke. i drive here once a month from sacramento just to indulge. i love this place.
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Review from lisa g.
Nevada City, CA
4/25/2009
Maria's is a great place to go for a casual lunch or dinner. It is basic in it's decor and tmost of he food is very good. We love the complimentary chips and salsa, although the salsa is just okay.. The Al Pastor and carnitas tacos are traditional (not Taco Hell style), cheap, and delicious. . The beans? I wouldn't recommend. -------
