La Esmeralda

For being in this area this place is really good. the prices are great the food tasted really good. clean place nice customer service. will be my go to from now on in this area.

Food is very tasty and well seasoned. We had cabeza torta, quesadillas, and asada tostada. Every employee came by to check on us tomake sure we enjoyed our menu. Prices are decent. Worth finding if you are in the SW Fresno area.

Fresh food. They prepare it fresh, wtf more do you want? Don’t want to spend all night in the john, come here.

While not necessarily the best Mexican food in Fresno, it gets major points as the only «sit down» restaurant in the area for miles (other than a Denny’s on Jensen,) with the only others being miles north downtown, or miles south in Easton. The only other lunch options in the area would be the Alberto’s on the corner of Elm and Jensen, and the numerous fast food chains on Jensen, as well as the aforementioned Denny’s. While there are numerous taco trucks in the area as well (that Unilocal refuses to add on here despite me trying numerous times,) all are pretty limited in selection in comparison to the rather large menu here.
That’s not to say this place is only good because there’s no where else to eat around here– it’d still be a solid 4 stars if it were located anywhere else (well, except North Fresno/​Clovis, where it would jump back up to a 5) and since I’ve been eating here from day 1 since it opened, I’ve learned what to get and what’s better at the taco trucks.
Speaking of eating here from day 1, the first time I came in, they didn’t have their debit card system set up yet, and it was cash only. I didn’t know this when I ordered, and kinda embarrassingly told the cashier I only had 2 bucks in my wallet so I’d come back some other time. He told me that was fine and let me have my order anyway. THAT is customer service and how you get repeat customers– hope all you business owners that publicly (and privately) BLAST your customers take note.
Anyway, as far as what to order… I’d stay away from tacos and burritos here, they’re kinda boring and you can get them at any taco truck. My personal favorites are the sopes, huaraches, and (surprisingly) the quesadillas. I’m not a big beans and rice eater, so I stay away from the larger combination plates. Oh, I forgot to mention that the prices you see are the prices you pay– tax has already been figured into the price. Nothing cleaner than just handing over a $ 5 bill and walking away ;)
Would I recommend you dropping whatever you’re doing and coming way the fuck out here? No, probably not. It is however, literally the definition of 5 stars– «as good as it gets» around this part of town.

Great spot for Mexican food in south Fresno. The Restaurant is located next to my work, so we have been there many times now. The food is prepared well and served fresh. For $ 6 you can get a burrito that will more this satisfy you.
There are few items that really stand out. First is their chivo (goat). Not everyone can do it well, but they can. You can have it in Birria, but also have it as a meat option for tacos, burritos, etc.
Second, their breakfast burritos are very good. A lot of places have this item, but their bacon ones have plenty of bacon, no skimping here. All the ingredients are in good proportion.
Finally, I love their Melon Agua Fresca. I have never seen melon drinks at other restaurants. Earlier in the year, they were using honeydew and now they are using cantaloupe. It has great flavor without being «surrupy» sweet.
It would 5 stars, if their service was better. I think it’s their teenage kids serving as waitstaff. They are nice, but not trained. For this kind of place, I come for the food, not to be pampered.