My favorite taqueria
Driving home late at night & realizing I haven’t eaten all day and there’s nothing good in the house that would take less than 20 minutes to cook, and then like some kind of holy vision, the gleaming shiny Taqueria El Grullense appeared. Oh! Yummy! It was only $1.25 per chicken taco, with salsa, lemon, and chips; the chicken is always tasty, tender, non-gristly, on freshly made tiny corn tortillas. There’s something touchingly homey about the way you get your tacos on a cheap paper plate covered in foil.
This El Grullense is the best one in Redwood City, next to the “Vibes” head shop on El Camino. (Don’t confuse it with the one on the other side of El Camino a few blocks away. Fatal mistake.) Anyone following in the footsteps of Bill Addison (85 different taquerias in 10 weeks!) should start here, in the big parking lot behind the bus stop, where everything is so cheap delicious.
That’s the one on the corner of Middlefield and — is it Main?
I also really like El Burro Crazy on Broadway and Maple.
This one’s pretty good. There are a couple on Middlefield Road (one closer to downtown RC in what looks like a former burger joint), another on the other side of Woodside Road across the street from Costco/OSH and Sigona’s Market); both of those a pretty good.
There’s also an upscale El Grullense on Woodside Road around Hudson. There’s a loud mariachi band (I think Wednesday nights) and the interior is much more pleasant (plus full bar and TVs playing American sports or soccer); this one is nice enough inside for casual dates, etc. It also has kickass fish tacos (the fish is lightly fried, not steamed).
El Tullense, Carlita’s and Rosita’s on Woodside Road all make good food too. I haven’t tried Sancho’s or Los Gemellos (or a bunch of others in RC for that matter).
The renovated Tres Amigos in HMB is better than the old one, but the standout taqueria on the water is El Gran Amigo in Moss Beach, a place with absolute zero “curb appeal”. They apparently refry their carnitas so you get crunchy little nuggets of melt-in-your-mouth pork. No tourists. Just locals, surfers, etc.
It’s at El Camino and Jefferson, actually! I keep meaning to try the one at Middlefield and Main – is it good?
And I’ll check out El Burro Crazy next week sometime (not quite up to the 85 taquerias in 10 weeks… maybe 2 a week is more my pace, even for 1.25 per taco.)
The best bet best burrito place is Sancho’s right next to Emerald hills (redwood city). It’s awesome.. they’re expanding this month so they’ll have more room, but their burritos are awesome.
Personally, I’ll eat any burrito.. cast-iron stomach, ya know.. but my wife only likes the good places.. and this place gets her glowing recommendation.
I have to say the best burrito I’ve ever had- because of the spices and juice of the beef- was at the taco drive-up place in Gilroy, on Monterey Street, near the Amtrak station, but other side of the street (heading south, on your right). F-ing amazing.
Call me and we can go to El Burro Crazy for lunch! (Not Wednesday though.)