El Taco

I go back to when this was Tippy Taco and the crisp tacos were 4 for a buck. I was driving down Centreville Road for the first time since the 1980s and I was shocked that the place is still there and still selling great cheap tacos that are delicious. Between this and Kline’s freeze I was in the twilight zone, my wife kept saying OMG it does exist! I’m gonna raise one to good grease, cheap beer and cruzin on weekends.

My go-​to meal is 3 tacos, 2 taco burgers and a meat burrito! Love it!

Been eating here since I was a kid. It’s gone way downhill, but I’ve still stuck with it throughout the years out of nostalgia. Today, though, was beyond awful and is zero stars, if that were an option. I’m burying El Taco forever… It’s now dead to me.
The food was the worst ever. A year ago we liked it. Tonight we couldn’t eat it. The sauce bottles were gone, so I asked them for some. They acted surprised (what??).
I always get 2 enchiladas with sour cream. I ordered that. I didn’t get the sour cream and so I took it back and asked for it. After several minutes of my food getting cold while I waited for the staff to consult over my lack of sour cream, they said they’d get it for me, but it’d have to pay for it. Really? I spent $ 20 on food and you made a mistake and instead of apologizing and getting me the sour cream that I ordered, I have to be inconvenienced and go get my wallet and hand over more money? Bad service! If they apologized for their mistake and simply gave me a dollop of sour cream, I may have not posted this review.
In addition to the sauce bottles no longer available, there were no napkins and no water jug. Hardly any utensils. The trash can was over flowing. The ladies room had no toilet paper, was filthy, and had no paper towels. The men’s room had a broken toilet and no toilet paper or paper towels.
They weren’t busy; there was only one other family there. They sold half the building to Dunkin Donuts. They claim they will renovate in February. After our experience today, I suggest they sell the other half to DD. Saying the food and cleanliness was disgusting is a compliment.

Some of my favorites at El Taco is the California Burrito and combination burrito. My family and I have been going here for years and really enjoy their food.

Really good cheap food! I only gave it three stars because of the appearance but the food was on point. You can get a good meal to eat under 10 bucks. Classic good and cheap eats.

Really good cheap food. I had a huge craving for Mexican and I’ve heard about this place, and pass it every day on my way to work. My husband and I got enchiladas, burritos, nachos, frijoles, and a taco burger. Everything was good, and it only took 5 minutes to get it. The restaurant was empty, but it was about 6pm on a Wednesday night. I would suggest trying it. I know my pregnancy cravings will hit again and I’ll grab a thing of enchiladas at least once a week.

Love this place! Remember going as a kid, this place is a legend! Love the enchiladas, and taco burgers! Sad that it will be closing soon tho :(I’m going to miss it!

Good food, always leave here full and happy. Getting the chicken or rice is hit or miss… sometimes they have it and sometimes they don’t. But none the less, a place to eat cheap and leave full! Soon it’ll be a Dunkin Donuts/​Baskin Robbins… Til then, we will continue to enjoy!

Cult classic place. The interior looks like crap but they have great tacos at low cost. I have been eating here since I was a kid growing up in Manassas. I used to be able to walk to the old location on Sudley Manor. All the tables had the kids names carved into them over there but that one is long gone. The El Taco 28/​Centreville road still carries on. This place is something of a legend if you grew up in Manassas in the 80s/​90s.

my favorite taco joint in this area. few things I’ve learned after frequenting this place waaaay too much is get the hard tacos only if you’re going to dine in. the shells become too soft by the time you take them home, but they are the BOMB when fresh. the soft tacos are delicious either way. those 2 items are usually my go-​to but the enchiladas are also on point! finally, a MUST is to utilize their delicious taco sauce they have. I personally drench it in this sauce and the mixture with their taco meat is to die for. 5 stars!

I cannot end my love affair with this place. It’s the perfect comfort food and it’s so affordable.

I should have taken the clue that no cars in the parking lot hardly ever is a bad sign. We asked, and paid extra, for chicken in everything. We received beef in everything. It was a to-​go order, so no fixing it. The only thing I enjoyed was the random, last minute choice to grab a piece of cake, which was tasty.

El taco is amazing. I have been enjoying this restaurant since the early 90’s when they had a spot in Sudley Manor Square. The food today is as good as it was then. The spiced beef they use in their dishes, tacos and burritos is addictive. I crave some El Taco tacos and California burritos. My go to order is a California Burrito, El Taco dinner, and an extra taco. I love their spicy salsa, though I think they have changed the recipe for that recently for the better :)

I kind of like this hole in the wall place. It sort of reminds me of the old Taco Laredo that was in Woodbridge until the ‘90s (?) but it’s a little different.
The food is cheap and since I kind of like junky Mexican food, I like it. I even like it better than Taco Bell but it’s kind of on-​par with that kind of food. It’s not a gourmet experience. For under $ 4, I got a taco, some refried beans, and a soda, and I was very happy. I even bought some California burritos and enchiladas for my dad. He loved them but I think he really misses Taco Laredo.

Not a dive. It’s a small, family run place with GREAT food. I do wish there was a little more to it– The juke box has been broken forever– But what do you go to El Taco for? FOOD! NomNomNom! Salsa & chips, Taco burgers and my all-​time favorite tex-​mex, the California Burrito! Everything I’ve had here is good, but those two are the bees knees. My father likes it too, and he doesn’t like any Mexican places. Not to mention that we’ve been eating here since we were kids. There was another one on Sudley Road, but thankfully this one is still standing. Again, the atmosphere leaves a little to be desired (If you like fancy shmancy), but if you want good food for little money, check them out and tell ‘em Al sent you!

I have not been in a long while… not much has change. Yes, this place is a bit of a dive… but somehow it has it’s own allure. Been coming here off and on since I was a kid. If it’s very cheap eats you want… this is the place to be.
I did try their Saltena today. Meat, potato, egg in a pastry. I have to say… they are very good! It was not on their menu, you have to ask for it. Great eat for only $ 1.95.

Ok El Taco is not getting five stars for the following reasons.
1. Trash always piled up out front
2. Dirty Bathrooms with out working locks
3. Tables are never cleaned
But the food is AWESOME. This place has been a great place to eat in Manassas for several years. Its nice to go somewhere local and not a chain or franchise. This place could be so much more if the owners would put a little extra effort.

LOL — I read reviews about the quality of the food and how disgusting it was and it just makes me laugh… Bottom line folks… if you didn’t grow up on El Taco like us native Manassasians then you probably will find this among the grossest food. However as you can see, most of the high ratings here are all natives from the area and have had El Taco in our lives since childhood; its our own personal ghetto gourmet food! :)
As pointed out in SEVERAL reviews, El Taco has been around for AGES! It used to be in Manassas in the Kmart Shopping Center… I remember all of the neighborhood kids would walk up there together and hang out, eat cheap food, listen to the juke box and play arcade games– GOOD CLEAN FUN (a foreign concept now a days).
Then it moved across town to Centerville Road… the digs are way less than what they had in Sudley Shopping Square but the food is still yummy. It has changed over the years and I went once and it was even bad… but, the nostalgia reigns and El Taco remains a legend in our time and every high school reunion is followed by lunch at El Taco. And as someone else pointed out, if you are trying to compare El Taco to Taco Bell, you are comparing apples to oranges– you will be sorely disappointed.
I personally love my Cheap Tacos and will be heartbroken if it ever goes away. But make no mistake, its a food shack; plain and dirty on the outside and not much better on the inside (oh, and DONT EVER use the bathroom there! lol) But, as is the case with most holes in the wall, the food is fabulous. And again, it is a mainstay for those of use who grew up in the area. Shoot, I went in one time to grab some food on the way back from donating platelets and no kidding, some dude came in with a cooler and walked out with over 100 soft tacos! LOL I was worried there would be nothing left.
You should give it a try just for shits and giggles if nothing else; as you can see, it is very cheap so you won’t lose much on the deal, and hey, you might even like it! Oh, and yes they do accept credit cards but your purchase must be at least 10 $. Also, they have added some new items to the menu but after having ventured away from my normal order, I determined I will not do so again. ;)
– the four stars is because it is very dirty and the bathrooms unserviceable.

El Taco is not gourmet food, El Taco is a legend!
As Neal mentioned, the outside of the building is in serious need of attention. The sign is falling apart, it’s dirty, the trash is usually overflowing and the windows need a good scrubbing. Sadly, the inside is no different. You will be greeted by table’s that have been around 30 years, tacky pepper decorations and Christmas lights. The menu has been the same for at least the last 15 years I’ve been going, hand painted cartoons of the food with one sticker over another containing the price.
El Taco honestly is going to be about the same quality you would get at Taco Bell with a few different options. I personally love the California burritos. I think they are currently like $ 1.65… cheap but small. Everything there is on the cheaper side, but the portions are also very small. You’ll be able to have a whole meal for about $ 6.00.
My guilty pleasure it the chips and chile’… I don’t know what they do to it, but it’s really just amazingly yummy!

This restaurant looks as seedy as it gets; don’t come here for atmosphere, unless you like that sort of a thing. Do come for food though. I ordered 4 tacos and they were delicious. Tacos come with meat, cheese, and lettuce — generous portions of all. I wish they put tomatoes on there, but their homemade sauce takes care of that problem. The prices are very reasonable — $ 1.05 for tacos, add 0.45c if you want chicken. People came in every 5 minutes or so to order food, but seemed to get it to-​go. Not surprising.
The value you get is great — compared to Taco Bell this place is great — and prices are about the same. However, it has a «hole-​in-​a-​wall» feel to it complete with a broken jukebox and desolate dining room.