Tacos Ensenada

I love the portions, however the steak enchiladas had a little sweet taste to the end. weird

I’m writing this review as I’m eating their Carne Asada burrito.
We ordered 3 Asada burrito via the Grubhub app since we were too lazy to leave the house to pick up dinner. The delivery charge was $ 2.99 flat for a minimum of a $ 10 purchase which isn’t bad especially if you’re ordering a lot. Burritos on average are from $ 8-​$ 10. The burritos arrived warm but a little dry in my opinion. It’s still satisfying and will fill your tummy but it wasn’t anything special. It’s not very greasy so that’s a plus because most places I eat at in LA taste better, but very oily.
I wish they gave us salsa on the side but I didn’t request it in my order either. It came with 2 small bags of chips but again, no salsa either.
Was pretty pricey if you think about it. It was about $ 33 but that’s including tax, delivery charge, and tip (10% minimum if you’re using credit card on the app, but you may choose cash tip).

I ordered this for lunch the other day and it was OK. I would categorize this as decent Mexican food for a low price. I had a chile relleno and beef taco and my buddy had a burrito.
I would eat here again just to give it a second shot and hopefully it will be better next time. Maybe eating in will be different?

Solid Mexican option in the area.
Pretty busy on a Saturday night, but our orders came out quickly.
We went with some al pastor tacos, fish and shrimp tacos, an al pastor burrito and a quesadilla kids meal.
Kids meals are tiny, real;t not for anyone over the age of 6 and the rice was tasty, but cold, pass next time.
Al pastor was a bit fatty, ok, but not the best I have had.
Same for the fish and shrimp, wish they would have been fried, both a bit watery and lacking flavor.
The highlight here would be the salsa bar, tons of great options, free chips also a nice touch.
Service was nice, prices and portions fair, not the best, but ok.

I came here optimistically based on the 4 star reviews. I was hoping that this could be «my taco joint». Sorely disappointed.
The tacos were overpriced at $ 2.99 each. They were about the size of my hand, approximately 5 inches in diameter. Too big for street tacos… more like the size of Mission corn tortillas from the supermarket. I usually get 5 street tacos but based on the price point, I decided to restrain myself and only get 4. My total for lunch came out to a whopping $ 12.57. I sat down at a table with my number stand & decided to get some salsa. While the salsa station looked clean… the salsas were all made from canned tomatoes, minus the pico de gallo (which I don’t usually put on my tacos). Ugh!!! Such a disappointment. The pickled jalepeños/​onions/​carrots were also a disappointment & not spicy at all but had a sweet unsatisfactory note which I didn’t like. I was looking for a spicy, sour punch!
The tacos came out quickly but when the waitress handed them to me, there was a distinct funky smell. Don’t get me wrong… I am a CARNIVORE!!! I love everything about MEAT… the taste, texture, and especially the enticing smell as it cooks. However, something was amiss here… first RED flag. The tacos were also visually unappealing despite the bright blue/​green platter that they were placed on. The meat was haphazardly laid in dull drab heaps upon flaccid tortillas. They were cut in huge chunks where the unsavory fat pieces were clearly evident. When a «good» piece of meat is properly cooked, the sweet & savory taste of fat is just heavenly & an extra bonus!!! However, when the meat is cheap, it’s just chewy, gross, & a nuisance. Needless to say… there were several deposits of said item to my growing pile of napkins. Sorry to be so descriptive.
The actual taste of the meat??? Waaaaaaay under-​seasoned & bland. After tasting a few pieces, I decided that I would dress it up classically with just diced onions, cilantro, & a generous squeeze of lime. The salsas didn’t enhance (or even cover) the flavor of the meat. I kept squeezing more limes & adding more salsa until my tortillas starting falling apart. I only could stomach 2 tacos.
My husband insisted on meeting me for lunch. I tried to dissuade him because the tacos were NOT good. He came anyways. He made no comments… they were unremarkable. He also made several napkin deposits…
The search continues…

What can I say. I’m a sucker for Mexican food. This is the only place that reminds me of Mexico and the Mexican food I grew up on in Santa Ana. The place is so clean and people very friendly. You also get huge portions. Winner winner in my book. See you next week!

Nice Mexican eatery, with a variety of dishes. Tried the chicken fajita plate, and I thought the chicken was soft and had nice flavor. I think the tortillas might be handmade, well at least they look that way– they’re sort of plain but goes fine with the meat. Portions are good and quite filling because of the chips and tortillas.
Salsas are kinda hit or miss, but the salsa de molcajete was a standout. It’s flavorful and the spiciness packs a punch. The salsa verde is also good. Complementary chips are nice and crunchy/​fresh, but not overly fried or anything. Horchata was good too, not sure if it’s made in house or not, but it’s not the very artificial olé variety which is nice. Prices are decent.
Seems pretty authentic, the clientele was all Mexican, so that’s probably a good sign. I’ll be back to try other dishes

I loved it. It was delicious although my bf was disappointed with his steak and shrimp

Tacos Ensenada has such a huge menu! There’s tons of options for you to choose from and I am sure you will get what you want here! Their menu is literally what you see when you enter. It is such a great way to get your curiosity, engagement running, and tummy grumbling. WOOHOO!
The restaurant is laid out and decorated with Mexican culture. Giving you a taste of Mexico. The staff members are super friendly and patient while taking your order. Once you seat yourself, a staff member will drop off a basket of freshly-​made and crispy chips for you to munch on as you wait for your food.
My boyfriend and I like to come here on Taco Tuesdays! (YAAS!!) You can get them tacos for $ 1.50 each! SO CHEAP! Making us literally wanting to buy the whole menu!
What we’ve tried (we did buy the whole taco menu — ha!):
Carne Asada Tacos — oh em gee. These are my favorite tacos out of the whole shebang! The meat is super delish, but the meat may not be consistent at times. It depends on the day and the cut.
Carnitas Tacos — this was so-​so.
Al Pastor Tacos — this was so-​so.
Lengua Tacos — the tongue of the cow. It was tender and somewhat juicy. So not bad.
Buche Tacos — the stomach from the pork. This part is less spongy, but still tender and chewy.
Tripas Tacos — the small intestines of the pork. Chewy like a rubber band.
Pescado Tacos — The fish can be hit and miss. Some days it is good and some days it’s just plain fishy (haha).
Carne Asada Combination Plate — grilled steak served with rice and beans. The carne asada was delicioso and soft, but the rice and beans was so-​so.
Drinks that we’ve tried:
Horchata — made with rice, cinnamon, and milk. I FREAKING LOVE IT! They know how to do this drink right! Its perfectly blended and sweetened!
Guava — not that great.
Tacos Ensenada gives you the comfort and warmth while eating here. Giving you a taste of Mexico. So did I make you hungry yet? And are you craving for some tacos? If so, then head on over to Tacos Ensenada to fill up that grumbling tummy!
AS ALWAYS NOM FOR LIFE!

Always a great value with the best salsa bar in town. They sell the salsa too and fresh salsa is a lot better than the bottled stuff in the grocery stores.

Ordered Veggie Burrito. It’s giant and very good. Friend had campechana cocktail-​that thing was enormous and looked very good

Not that bad, but the name is Tacos Ensenada and I was expecting Ensenada Fish Tacos! not popular Mexican food

Hubby and I walked in on Halloween morning, just after buying the final touches on our costumes nearby. We live just down the street but never happen to give this place a try. But when we both wanted Mexican breakfast, this place popped up on our Unilocal search.
It wasn’t busy at all when we walked in. The lady who helped us was very nice and patient. As we normally do, hubby and each ordered an entrée (chorizo and eggs and red sauce chilaquiles) and then shared a menudo.
My favorite part of Tacos Ensenada is the freedom they give you by way of their massive salsa and other condiment bar. I tried all four salsas (not including the pico de gallo) and really liked them all. The red salsa was my favorite. The fixin’s for the menudo were also available at the bar along with the pickled carrots. Yum!
Our entrees were delicious. The chilaquiles was a little saucier than I was used to but leftovers (after being soaked) were perfect for our afternoon snack. The menudo needed some flavor adjustment (thank you, condiment bar) and was then also good though the broth was a little on the thin side. They need the pata to fortify the broth.
Service was great, always with a smile. We asked for to-​go containers when the lady came by to clean off nearby tables and she promptly provided them.
We might just make this one of our staples…

Love this place, has bomb Aqua frescas. Big proportions and they give free chips while you’re waiting for your food. Salsa is really good. Posole, carne asada and chilaqueles are my fav.

Amazing food always fresh and made to order and great fresh juices from carrot or orange etc ! I can come here daily and not get tired of it because of such a huge selection. Their raw fish cocktails are all super fresh you can tell ! Defiantly worth the money ! Got my ten star vote !
TACOS ENSENADA I LOVE YOU !
Sarita

Yuck. Stay away from the tamales. Sadly Trader Joes frozen tamales are better. The masa around the tamales were hard… Seemed like they microwaved the tamales to heat them up. The supposed chicken inside looked like chicken livers and gizzards. Had the cheese enchilada which was good. The rice was ok. The salsa… I’ve had better. I still don’t know what’s wrong with this area and the folks that give 4 – 5 stars to places like this.
It’s almost like people aren’t rating food on Unilocal.Never will go back.

Wow great find tonight at 930pm trying to find a quality meal before everything closes. Went with a shrimp burrito and it is excellent. Asked for it wet with red sauce and they made it with green sauce by mistake. I wasn’t about to send it back and I am glad I didn’t because it is outstanding. Little bit spicy but if I stay away from getting to much of the sauce on a bite it is mild enough. Real spicy lovers will enjoy this. Friendly and comfortable — highly recommend.
Adding picture.

Wow — my Taco Tuesday plate (each good size taco for just $ 1.50 each) consisted of fish taco — very good, al pastor taco — nice though marinade could be bit stronger and carnitas taco — nice & tender. Plus they bring you fresh chips where must go to the Salsa Bar for condiments.
Salsa Bar excellent — 4 types of salsa, pico de gallo, pickled jalapeños & carrots, lime slices & fresh cilantro.
And best thing is Agua de Jamaica in big mason jars … love that drink ! Also have tamarindo if you prefer.
I will be back on another Taco Tuesday to try the other choices and each just $ 1.50 each !

Tacos Ensenada is located on El Toro and Raymond in Lake Forest. It’s an unassuming Mexican place with great food. I went to lunch with my coworkers and left with a food baby. The portions are large but worth the extra calories. I ordered the carne asada burrito wet ($ 8.20). The burrito is stuffed full of grilled steak, beans, and rice. The sauce of your choice (green or red) is slathered on top with melted cheese. It’s massive. I also ordered a watermelon agua fresca.
They have other flavors too and I hear their horchata is fantastic.
My coworkers let me try their barbacoa stew and refried beans. It was so good and for once I wanted something other than my own entrée. Yum! There is a self-​serve salsa bar complete with carrots, radishes, cilantro, onions, and 5 different salsas. Try all of them to see which ones you prefer. The service was pretty quick and they bring the food out to your table after you pay at the counter. The next time I get a Mexican food craving, Tacos Ensenada is at the top of my list.

I FACKIN’ love this place.
They have the best food — the green Chilaquiles is my go to hangover cure, it’ so eggy and delicious! Pair it with a large Jamaica and I am in post-​hangover heaven. Everything they make here is great, not just the hangover food. They also have an awesome salsa bar.
The lady at the front (sorry I didn’t catch her name!) is super nice also, she doesn’t laugh when I try to speak Spanglish with my gringo accent… this is a plus. Yes, this is a super plus. Love this place.