California Taco Shop
381 Plainfield St, Providence, RI, 02909
California Taco Shop Menu
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Address :
381 Plainfield St
Providence, RI, 02909 - Phone (401) 942-3938
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :8:00 am - 12:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Jason M.
Love the pastore burrito combo. Good eats!
(4)Bethany E.
Pizza quesadilla are fabulous!
(4)Cesar L.
Awesome mexican food. This is the only place in town where you can still get tacos for 1.00... And I'm not talking about the shitty frozen Taco Bell shit. Fresh ingredients... I try many other plates and they are good and extremely affordable as well.
(5)Sha V.
First time. We ordered fish & shrimp tacos, nachos & a burrito. I'm super picky about my food (no onions, tomatoes & light lettuce) what I got was a huge mix up. Two shrimp tacos - cheese, onion & shrimp. Two fish tacos - lettuce, tomato & fish. What I expected was to have it together and not have to pick things out I specifically asked not to have. My BF had the burrito but all the meat was at the bottom/end. The only up to our meal were the nachos & even that was whatever.
(1)Holly E.
I've been to the location on Central Ave in Pawtucket and it is just as great! I got the rolled tacos combo that came with rice and beans and it was great. I thought the chicken could use some more flavor, it seems like it was cooked with just salt and pepper. It was good, I just would have liked more of a spice to it. Overall, it was great!
(4)Grady S.
Best authentic mexican around in RI. Quick service and good prices. Nice people and have been going for years. Highly reccomend!
(5)Nora R.
Had a shrimp burrito. As a San diegan I've had a wide variety of shrimp burritos in my day , but this one here was probably one of the best. Definitely top3. Better than the shrimp burrito in lucha libre.
(5)Matt L.
If burritos are the food of the gods (they are, right?) this place is Providence's answer to Kashi Vishwanath (google it). First off, don't be alarmed by the prices listed--it's not a mistake, the food really is that much of a value. Not in the way that Burger King chicken nuggets are a value either. This stuff is genuinely outstanding. I've only had the burritos so far, but I expect to be a regular and cannot resist the siren's song of tacos...
(4)Jairo P.
I was at this Taco shop yesterday and the food is great but the service really sucks!! The line was long, only one person is allowed to take your order while 2 others where just talking with each other. I complaint and requested a Manager or Supervisor and was told that neither were available in a rude manner.
(1)Sonja R.
As a Californian recently transplanted to RI I was very excited to see a "California Taco" place. I went for the Carne Asada Burrito. The tortilla was not cooked, still cold. Asked for chips and salsa which was extra (usually complimentary in Mexican/Californian establishment but OK) the salsa was not fresh. The tomatoes tasted like they came out of a can and the salsa had no spice what so ever. Service was slow and the servers seemed confused.
(1)Calvin O.
Went here for a late dinner, the el pastor and fish tacos were bomb. Neat little place serving a wide variety. Service is as expected with a family owned joint. Definitely coming back again, recommended for late night snack / dinner since they're open till midnight.
(4)Sha'Ri R.
Ok so it took me four visits to try something new. In my opinion if it ain't broke don't fix it. Especially when it comes to my food! The Carne Asda burritos are delicious! Get a nice big burrito for 5.50. With more flavor and ingredients than chipotle. I tried the Carne Asada soft tacos... *wiping drool* yes can you see a pattern? I love my steak haha... Finally I devoured the shrimp tacos with a soft shell! Amazballz! I think I know what is for lunch tomorrow. They probably are sick of seeing me... Not my money though. Tacos are 1.99 unless you want just the meat and they are a dollar. Yeah good cheap eating! The shrimp are not the jumbo shrimp they are the small ones not baby or salad shrimp. However they are devined and grilled and have great flavor especially with the onions cilantro salsa fresca lettuce tomatos and hot sauce!
(4)Rob K.
Solid, authentic Mexican food all around. After eating at every last taco truck, tacqueria, cantina and hole in the wall between San Francisco and San Diego, this is as close as you are going to get without making the 5 hour plane trip to Cali. They use the Northern CA style on most burritos (sour cream, cheese and lettuce) but you can ask for the San Diego style (rice, beans, meat and salsa). I had the burrito carne asada and camarones (w/ rice, onion, green pepper and shredded cheese) with a side of hot salsa - tons of flavor! Excellente! The prices ($6 for a regular burrito) are some of the best in Providence, it's clean, the ingredients are prepared fresh and parking is easy. Will be back very soon!
(4)Cory K.
I never thought I'd delve any deeper into Olneyville for Mexican food with favorites Chilangos and El Rancho Grande nearby...but coupons have a magical way of getting me to try new places. On the plus side- I ordered the largest burrito I've ever seen...a 2.5 pound monster burrito with rice, beans, guac and both steak and chicken. Aside from being nearly impossible to eat (and at least 2 meals) the chicken was dry and could have used some hot sauce or something. We also tried a sampler plate with taco roll-ups, enchiladas, etc. Everything was generally underwhelming. I don't know how authentic this place is....maybe authentic Californian. Pretty pedestrian fare, but at least they have generous portions. If you want to feed three people with a single burrito the size of your head for $9 then by all means get over to California Taco Shop!
(3)Jessica S.
carne asada burrito is very good. I like the grapefruit pop. the steak ranchero plate is good but is much better at Mi Ranchito
(4)Joe B.
The burritos and tacos are stacked with food but they lacked taste. The prices are fair for the amount of food you get. I find Baja's Tex Mex Grill, on Thayer st., a better option for burritos and tacos.
(3)Lewie Q.
My favorite taco shop in RI all the food is super fresh authentic Mexican food I do not understand other reviews about the service it is a taco shop in silver lake not a five star restaurant the service fits the venue to a tee the place is very simple and the food is great
(5)John B.
This place is legit, I have heard that it's pretty good here had to try it out. I see some bad reviews about service, it was not the case for me. Two young girls taking orders, very polite, informative and fast. Got the 2 taco combination. (fish tacos) first of all the price was right $6.99. Comes with two large tacos, fish tasted delicious with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and tarter sauce. Also came with beans , rice, and salad also delicious. Good size portions. My only complaint is that it's called California taco and I didn't see anything Baja style which i was hoping to try some baja style fish tacos. Also the place needs a bit of an update and parking seems like it could be a problem, it is located on a corner of a busy intersection. I would definitly recommend this place and I will be coming back again very soon!
(4)Robert S.
Went there for lunch. The place is very basic, lots of colorful decorations. You order at the counter and then sit down. They will bring your order to you. I ordered the Bisteck Encebollado (Grilled flank steak with grilled onions). It came with salad, rice, refried beans and a few chips. It was very good. Nicely seasoned and lots of it... My friend got the Breakfast Burrito with Steak and he loved it. Kind of funky atmosphere, kind of divey, but definitely good food at cheap prices. Most items are under $10.
(4)Erica O.
Love this place..food is always seasoned to perfection. Good service ambiance could be better. I recommend the steak nachos...finger licking good.
(5)Carolynn S.
This place is wonderful!! One bite of my rolled taco I felt like I was back in San Diego. As a San Diego native I can honestly say this is the closest to San Diego style tacos and flavors you can find in the New England states. If you visit this place order an Horchata as a drink to accompany anyone of their wonderful dishes :) definitely won't disappoint you!!
(5)Rajan M.
Great taco spot in PVD. Came here to satisfy my taco craving. After staring at the menu, and refraining from ordering the entire thing, I went for an al pastor taco, carne asada taco, and carne asada nachos. Fair warning: the tacos come with lettuce, sour cream, and cheese--I did not expect this, and am definitely not a fan of either sour cream or lettuce on my tacos. That said, I'll put that as "my bad" for not asking what comes standard on the tacos. Other than the lettuce + sour cream mix up, the meat was great. Minus one star for the corn tortillas that didn't taste house-made. As for the nachos, I thought they were fantastic, the tortilla chips were definitely freshly made, the guac was zesty, and there was a ton of meat + cheese + beans--just the way I like my nachos. I was very pleased with the staff, and the food came out in well under 10 minutes. All in all, a gem for tacos in PVD.
(4)Chris B.
Really dig the food at this place. It's reasonably priced and there's an extensive menu. Everything I've tried has been very good. As far as atmosphere goes, you'd be hard pressed to find a place with a tackier decor, and it's kind of strange that there are 3 of these shops within 3 miles of each other. I also get the sense that the kids working at these places get overwhelmed at times and I would recommend that you check your order before you leave. Always seems like there's some issue when I go there. The order is wrong, or they're out of a certain ingredient, the credit card machine doesn't work, etc. Just doesn't feel like it's professionally run and that's what keeps me from giving the place 5 stars.
(4)Jane H.
Fantastic! Easily accessible from my office, easy on-street parking, awesome tacos and they take credit cards. Super fast too. I got carnitas and carne asada, both excellent. And friendly service. Definitely my new go-to spot.
(4)Danielle R.
I am from San Diego (born and bred) and have been on a mission since I moved to Rhode Island to find real, San Diego style, authentic Mexican food. I had just about given up - having tried so many of the places here and always being disappointed by the lack of flavor, lack of spice and most importantly lack of my favorite dishes - Carne Asada Fries (French fries topped with chopped up carne Asada, sour cream, guacamole, and cheese drowned in hot sauce) and California burritos (carne Asada, french fries, sour cream, guacamole,pico de gallo). Then I found this place. My first thought was "California taco shop? Yeah right." But boy was I wrong. I walk in, found exactly what I was looking for on the menu, and had a feast!! HALLELUJAH!!!! the tastes took me straight back to Cali. Turns out the family that owns it came here from San Diego - saw the lack of real good San Diego style Mexican and decided to open shop. Needless to say - I will be going back again and again....
(5)Nephtali N.
I have been coming here for years to get my authentic Mexican food. I am bias to go to the original California taco shop on Plainfield, it is really delicious and well portioned food! John is an exceptional waiter and always does a great job when I'm there! I recommend the steak nachos and California burrito. The neighborhood may seem sketchy but it's really not, this is definitely a hole in the wall that you must try!
(5)Brittany S.
Is this place a joke? Wment to the one in warwick and it is God-awful food. Strange SWEET tasting soft taco shells that basically have the texture of a taco bell hard taco after a few hours, then you chew and it turns to some sort of sand by product. Also waited 30 minutes for 2 chicken tacos so...yeah, there's also that. Save yourself the garbage food experience.
(1)Eric M.
Unbelievable! Authentic Mexican taco shop. I just stops by for 2 tacos ($3.75) shrimp and cartinas. The flavors were crisp and delicious. For a second I forgot I was in a bad area of Providence and I felt like I was on the west coast. I recommend this place for anyone who wants delicious tacos.
(5)Donovan L.
Excellent! It's tough to find good Mexican food in New England and this place is great. Crunchy and tasty chips and salsa. Very good carne asada tacos and an excellent selection of Jarritos including strawberry. This is my new go-to place for Mexican food!
(5)Serge H.
The bumbling front staff at California Taco Shop won't win any awards for customer service. For example, sometimes it takes them a few tries to get your order correct. Also, if you are eating in, you can (usually) count on your server needing to be gently nudged a few times to bring you that beverage you ordered. However, if you have a saintly level of patience, you may eventually find yourself enjoying some tasty Mexi-Cali fare at a very reasonable price. The chorizo, charro, and shrimp tacos are quite delicious. The burritos are stuffed with plentiful goodness (the Carne Asada burrito is a winner), and the enchiladas will fulfill your gooey cheese cravings. Bottom line: Inexpensive, yummy Mexican food but occasionally inept service.
(3)Juan R.
Great place , love the burritos , staff if friendly , clean place , food comes out pretty quick , i always spot by this place if I'm in the area and I'm hungry .
(4)Sophie S.
The big menu can be a little overwhelming at first, but don't be nervous and order the classics! I think the burritos and tacos are delicious (except for the fish tacos, which are made with microwaved fish sticks and tartar sauce). the refried beans are tasty and the combo meal portions are generous. also, free chips to start with! all I wish for is a better salsa selection. overall not the best taco place in town but worth it for a decent dinner at a good price.
(4)Amanda M.
So difficult to rate this place. The food is absolutely amazing but the service is pretty stinkin' bad. Very unorganized and whoever answers the phone never has a clue of whats going on or whats on the menu. Expect a few mess ups with your order if you're calling for pick up. Love fish tacos?! Theirs are the tits. However, twice now I have received salmon in replace of the fried white fish. Salmon?! That's not even close to white fish! I've also received black beans instead of the refried beans (pinto) twice as well. IMO, in both instances, the customer should know of any changes to the menu. Also, if calling for pick up, make sure to specifically ask if they have fish available, other wise you may show up to get your order and be told that they don't have any fish. Information that could have been useful prior to showing up in front of their cash register... P.S. Deep fried chicken burrito is my new love. No mess ups yet! 5 stars for food (pending it's actually correct) 1 star for service.
(4)Broseph N.
El Rancho Grande was packed so we walked 2 blocks up the street to California Taco Shop and it was great. Authentic, quick, and absolutely scrumptious. We munched on some $1 tacos, burritos and tostadas. It was all great and all for less than $20. You will not be disappointed if you go here.
(4)Mandy D.
California Taco Shop is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The food is authentic, and the menu is hardly in English. That's how you know it's going to be great mexican food. I stop by at least once a week for the taco plate, which is a steal for the portion you get. If you're looking for simple, delicious, and authentic mexican food...you will love California Taco.
(4)Lisa S.
My new favorite Mexican restaurant. Shrimp tacos are delicious. Nachos are so fresh. Service is friendly.
(5)Keith S.
Wow, really good. Only had tacos and a torta (one of my favorite dishes) so far, but both were great. Nine of us got takeout last night and everyone was really pleased. Lots of flavor, and I enjoyed the hot sauce that came on the side. I was also glad it came on the side, as the kids didn't have any complaints about spiciness. Some got the combo taco plates that looked great. I know they came with rice, not sure about beans. The menu is sizable, and I noticed things that I'll have to try next time. Now I've never been to Mexico, but this is what authentic Mexican tastes like to me. I'm not sure what the people writing the negative reviews of some of RI's great Mexican places are looking for. My only complaint, no goat.
(4)