El Naranjo Restaurant

The food here was pretty good, decently priced. I got a super chicken burrito for $ 5.50 and a tamale with cream, salsa, and cheese for $ 2.00. They were both delicious, except the ingredients were kind of weird. They put parmesan cheese on the tamale and i found some chunks of potatoes in my burrito.
The service was good and the food and the food came pretty fast. There’s no salsa bar or utensils sitting out but you can ask them for some and they’ll give it to you.
Oh yea and this place is CASH ONLY so be sure to bring some cash. :)

I got word of this place from a friend after I inquired about meals with huitlacoche (mushroom that grows on corn, a delicacy)
I was super excited about having some huitlacoche. Last time I had some I was vacationing in Mexico and had no idea this treat was just a short drive away. To my surprise the huitlacoche quesadillas were $ 8.00!!! I mean really!!! That’s just an abuse! I passed. I’ll save my $ 16.00 and have fresh huitlacoche next time im on vacation.
Instead I went with the mole. It was ok. I won’t be back for their mole that’s for sure. Plus, they were understaffed so just ordering meant we had to wait 20 minutes another 20 for the food and the check was never brought to our table. We had to ask for it.

Tacos are weak (asada and pastor)
Pupusas are EXTRA weak
I’ll pass next time.

El naranjo is in a mex shopping center.
menu: pupusa, tacos (1.75), tamales (1.50), burritos, quesadillas and a whole bunch of items in spanish i didn’t understand.
sampling: carna asada burrito (4.50) super (5.50)
–pretty good sized burrito that was mostly rice, beans. flour tortilla and some sour cream. it had a nice spicy sauce in it and had spicy sauce with it to go.
the carne asada was interesting also. everything tasted fresh. (exceeds some burritos tasted in oaktown).
frijoles refritos
–seating at the bench was tight. can’t imagine all their patrons are slender.
–friendly, efficient service.
–food must be authentic, whole shopping center is mexican themed.

Went here with my friend he kept bragging about how good it was.
I got carne asada plate yummy and the tortillas were very fresh.
He got the super burrito he said it was was very yummy.
Loved the salsa and chips.
Service is a bit slow but the food was good the only set back is every time he has been in there the ATM/​Credit machine seems to be broken.
Small place but homey I would go there again. Saw the tamale cart outside but I was sooooo full I could not even think of buying any definitely will try them next time I go.

Delicious jalapeño&cheese tamales. Best ones on that side of the street. They sometimes have their tamale carts in the parking lot, but the restaurant is just as good. The service is good, quick, and if you get your food to go, ask for chile verde sauce to pour on your tamales.
Quick, friendly, delicious, and cheap! Not the cleanest place ever, but decent enough :) Theres plenty of booths if you decide to eat in. While I waited for my food, one of the guys gave me chips and salsa while I waited.

This restaurant was a random find for my family. We were on our way home to SF from Monterey, and baby was crying inconsolably, so we needed to stop. El Naranjo was the first place we came across when we exited and drove down Story Rd.
And what a good find! First of all, the staff were extremely patient with us and our sad, squirmy little boy. No one had a problem with said boy walking all around the restaurant to get his ya-​yas out. They sold us a banana (boy’s current food obsession), and one woman also gave him a strawberry — yum! Plus, the actual prepared food was quite tasty — homemade-​tasting chips and chicken tacos. I needed a Corona at that point, and there was one to be had.
Should I find myself in the area again and wanting Mexican food, I’ll definitely go here. And I recommend El Naranjo as fine establishment run by kind people.

The food is really good. I love chili verde and it is very tasty and authentic. My son’s child’s plate was enough food for two kids. The beans are great! The parking lot can be interesting (you can buy a passport or birth certificate there). The restaurant does not have AC and we were there on the hottest day this year. I was dying. A great place to practice your Spanish as they speak very little English. I will go there again. Decent prices too.

We have eaten at El Naranjo four times. We would eat there more often but sadly we live a bit too far away. If you want authentic Mexican food and an authentic Mexican experience, this is it. I don’t know where the cooks are from but I need to find out. It matters because each region of Mexico has a different style of cooking. The huevos rancheros and the chicken enchiladas are spot on. The chicken mole is prepared differently than most Mexican restaurants. It looks the same but they use an overwhelming amount of cloves. We will not order that again.
The service is good and the beans, rice, sauces and chips are great. Bring your own fan on hot days since air conditioning is not used.

El Naranjo is a prety good Restaurant. The Burritos there are mouth watering (No Homo) especially the Carne Asada. But when you go there on a hot summer weekend, it tends to get really stuffy (more if you’re eating a lot of hot sauce), Like you’re in a Oven. It’s Kinda Expensive especially if you’re low on Cash. But Over all i really liked it. i recommend.

The food is rather authentic — we generally speak spanish (as much as we can) to the waitstaff. The shrimp dishes are really pretty nice and the salsa has got a kick.
I personally would never go here again on a Friday or Saturday night. Although eating to a live Mariachi band sounds nice at first thought, they played indoors and the trumpets don’t know how to do anything but blare — ouchy, my eardrums were not happy.