Tico’s Tacos
901 S Main St, Salinas, CA, 93901
Tico’s Tacos Menu
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Address :
901 S Main St
Salinas, CA, 93901 - Phone (831) 758-8064
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
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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Chase M.
I have always enjoyed this place! You must get the taquitos and the bean and cheese burrito! Downside though this place is always packed! Must be the great food
(5)Eidden S.
Food Poisoning: My husband and son got food poisoning and both ended up in urgent care. My husband called Ticos Tacos to report it and was told a manager would call him back but no call. UPDATE: 4/3/15: My husband met with management and learned that they had not been informed of the incident. Ticos Tacos is taking this very seriously and we are very appreciative of the outcome.
(3)Allan W.
Great authentic Mexican food with low prices. Salsa bar. Friendly staff. Would like to see addition of fresh grilled jalapeños to the salsa bar. Excellent flavor. We drive 30 minutes from the Monterey peninsula to go to Tico's.
(4)Irene S.
Great authentic Mexican eatery in South Salinas. They have one of the best bean and cheese burritos, cheese enchiladas, asada fries, and chicken taquitos around. Great fast service during busy lunch hours.
(4)Arika G.
Was happy to come across Tico's Tacos while visiting my grandparents in Salinas, especially since the one in San Jose is no longer there. I ordered the same thing I did when I was a kid, the flautas & cheese enchiladas. Taste just the same as I remember. I decided to get the combo plate with rice and beans this time. Food is still great, but a bit overpriced.
(3)L.u M.
Good food, good location, very clean, enchilada style burrito is the best! However customer service SUCKS! The lady that takes your order ignores you, bad, bad service, I keep coming tho cuz I like how the food taste :)
(3)Michelle B.
I LOVE THIS PLACE. I have had only 2 things that I just can't get past. Number 1 is the ASADA BURRITO which is grilled sooo good and juicy it does not need salsa or any type of home made sauce that is there for you. I have to sit there for at least 10 minutes to make sure I let the food settle before I eat another one for tongue association only and the 2nd is the SURF AND TURF Burrito.... That is to dye for. Shrimp, Asada, french fries, and avocado all wrapped up in a burrito. OMG Pure love. I am so happy we live so close now. The girls here are the bomb and the cook, well he is just heavenly. Thank you for opening another on Cannery Row. ONE LOVE.
(5)Jaymie Lee M.
Why are you guys so rude?! I like the food, but get with the program! Work on your customer service you bozzo's!
(1)Erika V.
I dunno what happened to this place, but I was definitely let down. I went here all the time as a kid, got great food that didn't cost an arm and a leg...finally got to go in for the first time in, gosh, five years since I've been stationed overseas and I was SADLY disappointed. First, a plate of two CHEESE enchiladas and rice should not cost $10.25. How can you even validate that price? Then $1.50 per taquito? Seriously? For my order, it came out to about $14 which is insane to me considering I don't remember it ever...EVER..costing that much. Plus, I remember getting chips with your order. Nope, not now. Now you gotta spend $2 for a small bag? Have you lost your mind, Tico Taco? Maybe the price went up because of the fancy flat screen TVs they got hanging everywhere, or how they updated the appearance of their menu...or even opening a location up in Monterey..BUT...none of that is validation enough for the price gouging they're doing. Those sort of prices are legit in Monterey, NOT in South Salinas! I won't be going back again, to say the least.
(2)Erika J. P.
This is my boyfriends favorite "Mexican" place to eat so I come here often but it wouldn't be my first choice. Me being Mexican, I've ate at numerous authentic Mexican restaurants. First off, Mexican restaurants do not charge for chips. They do. Maybe they need the extra money? I've had the bean, cheese and rice burrito and shrimp tacos. Food is good, portions in my opinion are small and extremely overpriced. They charge extra for any changes. I also don't like that when you order your meal they don't give you your chips to start off with or your drink right away.. You have to wait for everything together unless you tell them you want those things first.
(3)Amy C.
I have been coming to Tico's since high school and I recently returned to Salinas and I was NOT disappointed! They still make the world's perfect bean burrito! I ordered 4 of them just to bring them back to the Sac area! The staff is friendly, the dining area is clean and the service is pretty quick. If I could eat there daily, I would! I am just hoping they will ship me some burrito's :)
(5)Kika M.
Used to like this place however one day for lunch I grabbed a bean cheese rice and sour cream burrito but it tasted extremely funny. I stopped going there then someone bought me lunch and it was the same kind of burrito. Again it had a funny unpleasant taste and I had asked it is from ticos tacos. Indeed it was. I opened my burrito and the rice had some green in it. Then I recognized the smell to it being molded. Very disgusting.
(1)Lucia O.
If you are in the area or are from around here you must try their bean and cheese burritos! It is the simplest thing on the menu but it is delicious!!! It is a family owned Mexican place so pretty much everything they have here is really good.
(5)Michael B.
The prices are too high for the quality of food you get... there is reserved parking for the owner... should be for 'employee of the month' but at this place I guess the employees, the customers or the food are not special...
(1)Oralia G.
Food is simply served but good way over priced and the wait is ridiculously long. I bought a plate of enchiladas I believe it came with two beans and rice for 12 or $13 that's usually what I pay for the seafood in a typical Mexican restaurant and staff not very good I was clueless on what number I was couldn't read it of my recipe and when I asked the girl looked at my recipe but never answered
(3)Sarang J.
I remember coming here during my first spring semester. My friend liked this place a lot so we went many times. The food isn't the best. The atmosphere is nice, the staff is friendly. If you speak Spanish with them, they like you even more. The food was okay, but the prices were asking for it. Not a fan of the prices. If I were to pay $10+ for Mexican food, it better be uh-mazing. But it wasn't so, my wallet cried with me. I've had fair share of authentic, delicious Mexican food, and I can say, Tico's Tacos isn't one of them, sorry.
(2)Lourdes T.
all i have to say is that white people love this place. Well i grew up with mexican food and just wanna let you guys know that the rice is probably old, the beans are mush grossness the food cost too much and man it just sucks. i know people are scared but for god's sake go take a trip to the east side for some good mexican food. La Casa del Sazon is also better.
(1)Lisa S.
Great food. Good service. Good prices. Nice place for locals. Lots of food choices. Great location
(4)Kyle D.
Amazing food! Very friendly employees as well! I have had just about everything on the menu and my favorite would definitely be the enchilada plate! Most Mexican food places get their sauces pre-made, at ticos there's no doubt that it's fresh. This is somewhere that I go with not only friends but my family as well. It's a nice, easy-going place and don't forget to try the salsa!
(5)Susan H.
Great Chicken Taco Salad. Friendly service,
(4)Pamela L.
FOOD POISONING ALERT. Do not eat here. I stopped here to eat and got the worst food poisoning and was sick for days. I still can't eat Mexican food from that experience. Awful!
(1)Josh H.
Came in to get a Cali Burrito. Usually they're pretty good but recently they've been forced out without much personal effort and the quality hasn't been up to par. Cold potatoes and tortilla and smaller than usual. I used to like this place but now it's disappointing.
(2)Andrew T.
Salinas has it's fill of Mexican restaurants, and this is not one of the better ones. The staff is notoriously rude, everything is overpriced and stingy in the sense that chips are $2 extra. Most Mexican restaurants give you chips while you wait. Ticos has it's charms the food isn't bad, but if you want real Mexican food at a realistic price look elsewhere.
(2)Daniella B.
Amazing food, good service and ready in minutes. Highly recommended! Ps the burritos are to die for!
(4)Jane M.
Good food, nice interior. I'd have preferred a choice of beans besides refried pintos (huge fan of whole pintos and black beans too), but a welcome meal nonetheless. My sister gushed about her carne asada tacos (I had the enchilada/relleno plate), and my nephew enjoyed the pineapple agua fresca. Will definitely remember this one when we're headed back south for any reason.
(4)Kim C.
I love this place! The bean and cheese burritos are very good. The ladies that work here are sweet as pie. We get Tico's to go once a week and always will.
(5)Javi C.
Food is ok, but the customer service is the worst ! Wow idk how they stay open ! They are always rude !
(1)Tommy T.
Tico's went way downhill.. It's quite sad really.. I grew up eating there, and after watching the decline of the quality time and time again, it just seems that lately, things are taking a turn for the worse.. I ordered in advanced like always, arrived to pick up my order, and I still waited for 10 minutes. Yeah, it's busy-that's-good kind of idea, and we all know to "look for the longest line" when we want quality, but nope. People are creatures of habit, and will go back out of habit alone. As for myself, I think that Tico's needs to slow down, or stop raising prices or use some clever way to increase service and step up their game, because this is not 1985 anymore, and places that don't evolve, fall behind. On another note, Tico's has the-worst breakfast burrito I have ever had and is always greasy to the point where it soaked through the tortilla.. For the die hard Tico's people, I know what I write is hard to read knowing I didn't give it 5 stars. For the passer-by, enjoy it as the one of very few Mexican places on South Main and take away from it what it is.. Take out Mexican food..
(2)Dave S.
A safe place in town for those not comfortable going to a real Mexican restaurant. If you want speed go to Taco Bell, if you have a few extra minutes come here. It's pricey for what you get, for the same money find yourself a sit down restaurant around town. This is Salinas folks, Mexican foods not hard to find.
(2)mari l.
Smallest so called "super nachos" I've ever seen and extremely overpriced.
(2)Big Mike B.
If you're in the mood for "American-Mexican" food, this is the spot. Let me break down mexican restaurants for you. If the dining area is FULL of Mexican's, it's authentic mexican food. If its full of people other than MEXICANS, NOT AUTHENTIC!! Tico's never has Mexicans inside, except for the cooks and cashiers. My advice....pass! Try La Casa Del Saźon down the road, behind Joy-pers. Hope this helps!
(2)Cecilia C.
Tico Taco is a great place for lunch on the south side of Salinas. I prefer Cozumel for going out to dinner, but Tico Taco does in a pinch when I'm on this side of town and need a fast lunch with professionals working on this side of town. Star removed because they do not give complimentary chips/salsa. There is a salsa bar, but no basket of chips. The only thing I order here is the chicken enchiladas which are great, but haven't tried other things on the menu. My husband enjoys the guacamole with taquitos. Make sure you get the chunky kind - it will cost you extra. FYI: You order at the counter and they give you a number to go pick up your food. There are no servers that wait tables. Very casual.
(4)Cruz C.
This is a disgrace to Mexican food , just horrible don't ever eat there unless you don't know any better.my food was grease and smelled and tasted just like a horror movie if there was a burrito like that oh wait tico tacos. No stars if I had my way but I did walk over to Burger king and had it my way.
(1)Liz G.
I LOVE THE SOFT SHRIMP TACOS!! & THE AL PASTOR or is ADOBADA idk but they are full of flavor!!!!!! 4 stars cus I wish the old lady who is always there was a bit nicer and not so serious all the time.
(4)Aryan O.
Could get busy at times, especially during the lunch rush. They are usually very helpful on what to get. Been coming here for years and they have not changed one bit. Prices are really cheap and the size of the portions, especially the burritos, are good for the money. Check this place out if your tired of the Taqerias here in town.
(3)Christin L.
I used to drive 25 minutes to Salinas to buy their bean, cheese and rice burritos. Best ever!! I have now discovered that they will be opening a shop right near me on Cannery Row... Woohoo!!! I've never had bad service, and for the price, are you kidding me? I am now going to patiently wait for my heavenly, flavorful burritos to be right down the street!
(4)Jaime D.
i had a bad perception of this place but i decided to give it another try, and glad i did! i ordered the carne asada burrito for $3.75! i didn't think i was gonna like it, but boy was it amazing! they also have this awesome salsa bar you can get some legit and delicious salsa. they did get my order wrong at first but it was corrected right away with no attitude. they do lose a star for not having caps for their salsa cups! what if i was getting it to go? i would not have been so happy. anyways the burrito was a legit size and it was delicious! i couldn't belive how good it actually was for the price! i will definitely be coming back to this place!
(4)Michele A.
Pretty good for takeout....so far all the options i've had were good. Reasonably priced. Easy menu as everything is pictured.
(4)Kevin T.
Meh, it's ok, but not great, and a bit over priced for what it is. Their chile verde is pretty good.
(3)Stephie B.
This is the worst "Mexican" food I've ever had in my life, seriously. We decided to eat here on Friday night before a movie because we needed something quick and cheap; plus I'd never been to Ticos Tacos and I like the name. I ordered the cheese enchiladas which came witih rice and beans.I couldn't even find the tortilla and cheese, there was so much sauce and it wasn't good. I didn't eat the beans because they looked nasty and the rice tasted like it was overcooked. I joked with my boyfriend and said it tastes like the Mexican rice he makes and messes up on and throws away. I will not be back. Next time we will just go to Taco Bell or Del Taco.
(1)Zubin S.
You'd imagine a place like salinas would be teeming with mexican restaurants out the wazoo. While there is no shortage of mexican joints, there is a real lack of QUALITY mexican joints, ticos tacos included. I love the fact that it literally takes FOREVER for your food to be prepared. go here if you hate yourself or if you're bowel movements are irregular. I'll just stick with chiquita around the corner.
(1)Stephanie H.
Maybe its because i'm from the Los Angeles area, where delicious taco trucks and amazingly delicious mexican food places are everywhere, but this place was not really worth it. I chose to eat here while stopping for lunch on my way up north and because the quirky decorations caught my eye and i was craving enchiladas. Ordering took some time not because the place was packed, but because the service took FOREVER. I ordered one enchilada and it took around 30 minutes. When I finally got my dumb order, I was so confused because all that i could see in my container was sauce (it was halfway filled). If I wanted SAUCE, I wouldve just freaking asked them for a plastic water cup and stocked up on the free sauce they had at the concession stand. Anyways, I somehow managed to fish out the enchilada and despite it being extremely soggy, it wasn't bad. If you want authentic mexican food, come to socal.
(2)Debby F.
It's a glorified fast food Taco Bell. Note to the owner-- the pictures of your food is so sun-bleached that you can't see them. Could you please update them? Food is meh. Those who love it, don't know what really good Mexican food can be. My husband refuses to eat here. He says I make better at home. Hey! Now that I mention it, I'm half Mexican. My Nana taught me how to make GREAT Mexican food. I don't get it, why so many locals love this place. Then again, they never ate my Nana's authentic Mexican food. Then you'd know this place deserves no more than two stars.
(2)Amy M.
This is a favorite restaurant of mine. The food is fresh and most of it is really good. I love the cheese enchiladas (I LOVE the flavor of the sauce) and the carne asada burritos and the fish tacos are other favorites. They also have great breakfast burritos. My favorite is the ham one. The only dish that I have not cared for was the chicken quesadilla- so I just don't order it. The chicken taco salad is HUGE and delicious as well. Fair warning- their guacamole is a little on the spicy side- so if you don't like that you might want to forgo anything that has it on it . They get busy on Friday nights especially..but will gladly take phone orders- which is what we do most of the time.
(4)Elizabeth J.
me love Ticos Tacos consistantly good. My favorite are the enchiladas, I love the sauce it reminds me of my grandma's. The green chili sauce is awesome at the salsa bar. Don't forget to ask for your side salad it comes with the meals and is free, just ask.
(4)April F.
A bean burrito (no cheese) will likely be on my list of things to eat at my last meal. Tico's Sauce? It's the nectar of the gods. I appreciate that the taste of the food hasn't changed in the 25+ years I have been going there and they haven't tried to become a seafood restaurant. I will never understand fish tacos, but that's just me. I think you have to be from Salinas (south Salinas) to have a true affinity for the place. There's a reason my friend's mom used to smuggle Tico's Sauce on a plane when she lived in Germany. Is it food for "white people"? Maybe, but all of the Hispanic girls in my office say, "Oh, we love Tico's. Those beans? Those are good beans."
(5)Ilsen M.
Food was not good, they assumed what i wanted in my burrito and had extremely poor customer service. Only thing i enjoyed was the horchata, that never fails me.
(1)Christopher C.
Salinas is full of Taco joints, which offer everything from very poor quality to super Mexican food. This place offers the worst Mexican food I have ever tasted at a price that is crazy given what they give you. I watched my Super Nacho's cooked in a microwave. When they came, they were horrible and the cheese was disgusting. My partner had a Burito, which again was overpriced and had virtually no meat. Both orders were poor, small for the price and tasteless. Avoid the overpriced plastic food at this place.
(1)Derek H.
My aunt and uncle got me going here years ago and I almost always see someone there I know. The only thing I have ever gotten there and still love is the Carne Asada Mexican Burrito. With a little of their green salsa poured on, good stuff.
(3)Joey E.
I really enjoy Ticos Tacos. It's a nice restaurant however far from being a place for one to expect exceptional service or delightful atmosphere. The food is good, and it's fairly priced. I enjoy eating here on occasion and have never had a bad experience with the food. At the end of the day the food is great, although the workers are equivalent to fast food employees in their customer service.
(4)Mellisa R.
Prices have increased and the portions are small. Not worth the money for the quality. So sad because I used to come here a lot but I have decided that after last night, no more.
(1)Sabrina L.
Wow...what a war on here with the yelp reviews! My rating is skewed because I can get good cheap Mexican food in Los Angeles for half the cost but the fact that this place is always full of people says something positive for Tico's. While standing in line trying to decide what to order, I asked the people around me (which included Hispanic/Latino patrons too...) what their favorites were: asada tacos sounded like it. I also wanted to try the chili relleno but the lady behind the counter suggested the burrito version. I ate the asada taco and didn't care for it (although the generous guacamole is a nice touch). But my mom and I tried the chile relleno burrito and enjoyed it although the actual chile itself was tough. The fresh salsas are a must. The green salsa was hotter than I anticipated and so was the yellow salasa. Spicy but tasty! (Although my husband thinks I'm weak sauce in handling spicyness.) I came back the next day (couldn't get over the fact that it's such a popular place, I lived in Salinas for 10 years and never tried it before)! I tried the al pastor burrito this time. It's just about one of the greasiest things I've ever eaten but sure darn tasty! If you have a sensitive stomach, beware! And just like the original poster warned...it was just meat with no rice and no beans. NOTE: the prices have gone up since these last reviews....it would get more stars if the prices were lower.
(3)Blake W.
Okay, so here's the thing with Ticos, it's got the kind of food you crave but regret eating afterwards. I've been eating here about twice a month since moving to the area back in the early 90s so I've been here a lot. I crave their mild salsa...its super thin and sauce-like and I can eat it all day long. Other than that I don't really have and "favorites". Their enchilada sauce is better than most, and the taquitos are simple and tasty (plus they come with this great avocado/cilantro dipping sauce). Burritos are for the most part fair and tacos and generally good (although if you'r getting tacos to go, make sure they are soft tacos cause the hard shell they make turn soft in like two minutes). All and all good, but like I said, never feel great after eating their food...I probably just eat too much though.
(4)Liz C.
I love ticos tacos and have been going here since I was 3. They have the best bean and cheese burritos. I love them. Really good beans. Really good tortillas. I also really like the carne asada soft taco and enchilada. Sooo good.
(5)Andrew N.
Simple Pleasures at Tico's Tacos. I overlooked this place for years due to it's South Side location and obvious non Mexican demographic. But I was pleasantly surprised when a friend who eats there three or four times a week forced me to give it another try. I've tried many things at Tico's some better than others. Let the list that I provide you with be your guiding beacon when ordering on their overwhelming menu. If you have a fierce appetite try the Sonora Enchurrito. This plate is what seems like damn near 3/4lb of shredded beef wrapped in a flour tortilla, smothered in their signature delicious mole sauce topped with cheese, sour cream, and guacamole (pronounced walk-a-molay, it's never too late to learn how to pronounce Guacamole the right way.) Make sure you request the included salad in the crunchy tostada bowl. It's almost a little too crunchy but not bad when dipped in salsa and used as a chip. This meal is enough to split with someone else, or just split your belly open. If you want something delicious, yet inexpensively filling, try the bean, rice, and cheese burrito and have them add their mole sauce inside of it. I've turned the most discerning Mexican food critics on to this delicious concoction. It's one of the cheaper items on the menu and is stays with you. If you are low on funds their classic bean and cheese burrito always hits the spot. The crunchy shredded beef tacos are everything you want them to be. Crunch fried taco shell stuffed with shredded beef, lettuce, and cheese. I've always enjoyed their salsa bar. Try the extra bright green Jalapeno salsa if you like a bite. All the other Salsa's including their mild and hot red salsas have nice flavor as well. I only wish they'd throw in some chips for orders over 10 dollars. As you definitely want to try their Salsas. My only complaint is the pickled carrots are soggy and the nachos stick to the Styrofoam plate. Seems a little toxic to me. So I just request a piece of wax paper under my chips if I order nachos. I've tried many menu items but when I go to Tico's I know what 's good and what works for my taste buds. It's may not be your Abuelita's cooking but it isn't taco bell either. So if you are passing by and need something of substance give it a shot.
(5)J S.
I LOVE TICO'S! Best quesadilla ever; it's like a pocket full of cheese! Everyone says that this isn't authentic Mexican food, and maybe it's not... I grew up on Tico's Tacos- lunch almost every Saturday and a special weekday treat if we got out of 4th period early enough to walk there.
(5)Daniel W.
overall a good food experience. There are better tacos in Salinas, but their chile verde is good
(4)Lee A.
Good food, I wish that there were written food ingredient descriptions. As it is there is no way to distinguish a burrito and a super burrito, and I supposed to assume something? It would make it much easier for people to order and would also help figure Weight Watcher points.
(3)Mr S.
The only reason this place has business is because there is a lot of white people in the south side of Salinas. If you have any mexican food background you'll barf in no time, by far the worst mexican..ish place I've ever been. I would love to explain more about the food experience but I've been trying to forget it for a while. People, with a lot of respect, specially if you are white. Do yourself a favor and go a little further towards the east side and get the real deal, if you are not a gang member there is nothing for you to fear in Salinas.
(1)Jim D.
Great for a fast food mexican. Good service too
(4)Lauren M.
Ticos Tacos is truly delicious and cheap Salinas dining at its best. The chile verde quesadilla and burritto with melty cheese are pieces of heaven. Also reccommend all the breakfast burritos (but you might want to split one because they are quite large). If you are a spicy salsa lover you must try the bright green salsa which is unique and fresh tasting. The ladies who work here are always super smiley. The only complaint is that I wish the menu pictures were updated! The menu pictures look very faded and don't do the food justice
(4)matt f.
Notice the only people who are trashing Tico's are assholes from San Francisco. I grew up in Salas, lived in San Francisco, and now live in San Diego. I know my freaking mexican food and Tico's is what it is, solid mexican food. It's not Tacos El Gordo, it's not La Taqueria, but so freaking what? People who eat here aren't looking for superlatives so they can turn around and rub it in the faces of 'unworthies'. Go back to 'Frisco. That's right, I called it 'Frisco yuppie trash!!
(4)Tom S.
I lived in Salinas for 17 years. I ate at Tico Taco frequently. Even though the building looks like a converted Taco Bell, IT IS NOT. The food here is really quite good. Cheap prices! Authentic made in house Horchata and Tamarindo to drink. Food flavors are authentic. They use fresh ingredients. Brian G. was unhappy with his all Chicken meat burrito. It didn't have the rice & beans he wanted. Ask for what you specifically desire, they can deliver. Hint: Like when traveling in Mexico (which Salinas, in reality, is a suburb) speaking Spanish gets you extra points and so does having a "simpatico" attitude.
(4)Kelly P.
Gross Mexican food. Alot of the high school students come here for lunch just because it's close by. But my stomach always goes through loops whenever I have eaten here. Good thing I stopped coming.
(1)B. C.
Oh Tico's how I love your carne asada guacamole chips with cheese sprinked on top...heaven in a foam container!
(4)jeb d.
Used to be good but raised prices on everything and give smaller portions .
(2)Gary K.
You have to love Tico's Tacos. The food is reasonably priced and homemade. If you that thinks that Gino's is the best Italian food on the Monterey Peninsula, you're probably not going to appreciate this place. The food is basic fare served in a quick and efficient manner. Gabe S. would rather have heaping portions of overcooked pasta smothered in store-bought cream sauce. YUCK!!! Is Tico's the best food money can buy? Certainly not. Can they offer tastey alternatives of traditional fast food at reasonable prices? Yup!
(5)Tim S.
Barf. I wanted to barf after trying to choke down a chile verde burrito. Chile verde! No. These were unadulterated chunks of sponge. They were wrapped up loose and lonely in a tortilla so steamed it was dripping. It was the only thing open on a Sunday in Salinas, and for that reason only can I imagine the other patrons of this place were there. Salinas, what a sad town, so low and gloomy, violence hanging in the air. God, this was a sick burrito. Sick, sick, sick. Would John Steinbeck enjoy this burrito? Yes, that bastard would. Why do the ladies who work here smile? Their smiles are overwhelmingly sincere, even bashful. Perhaps they know not what they serve. It is difficult to demerit their loving naivete. For them, a star. For the food: A billion billion zeros.
(1)Jason R.
I end up at Tico's a couple of times a year, whenever my girlfriend and I head to her roots in Salinas. We live in San Francisco, so we're really spoiled as far as Mexican goes. Anyway, Tico's is fine for what it is: decent Mexican food in the middle of nowhere. But at the end of the day it doesn't deserve the credit that locals give it.
(3)Brian m.
Ticos is a great family place. At dinner and lunch its always packed! Full of blue and white collar Salinas locals. It was opened by the late Chuck Orasco, who really knew Mexican food! Chuck also owned another Mexican place in Salinas called EL POLLO DORADO. His other place is still in business after 25 years or more. Neither place has changed its menu. They have been around for almost 30 years and both are popular as ever. This is a great place to see the make up of Salinas. They serve no frills well priced Mexican food.
(5)Aaron M.
I used to live in Salinas and this was my favorite Mexican restaurant. The cheese enchiladas were delicious and I haven't been able to find anything as good at any other place that I've been. I'd say that downfall of this place is that its trying to be a sit-down restaurant, but is more like a fast food restaurant in atmosphere. However, given that Salinas is not exactly San Francisco in sophistication, the atmosphere will do here and the food is really great.
(4)J C.
Tico's Tacos is one of our favorite places to eat!! My fiance and I usually grab dinner here on Friday nights and its always packed, we normally get our food "to go". The staff is always friendly, and the restaurant is always clean. The food is delicious; our favorites are the cheese enchiladas, carne asada tacos, carne asada burito, chile verde and the list goes on! The beans and rice are a must have when you eat at ticos! Hands down one of our favorite spots for a "quick bite" to eat~
(4)Gina A.
Greasy beans and rice. Not my favorite Mexican in town.
(1)Helen Y.
This place is freakin' awesome! We've only had a bean and cheese burrito and a chicken burrito with beans and cheese, but we love them. This isn't any sort of fancy Mexican food, but the burritos are awesome and it's a good price. We go other places if we want something more special, but for burritos, this is the place. The only thing is that you have to specify that you want the chicken combo burrito so that there's cheese and beans in it. other than that though we like it. Very yummy. We recently moved to Berkeley and have yet to find a good, easy, cheap burrito place.
(4)Jennifer S.
We tried to eat at Tico tacos tonight but when we arrived at 9:40 pm they were closed...even though their sign says they are open until 10:00 pm. They must not need or want our business. I won't gobout of my way to eat there again!
(2)Shiho F.
The food is okay but I'm giving them 5 stars for their catchy name. I first heard a friend say this in Jr High and to this day I still answer the phone with my best Spanish accent ... "Ticos Tacos, how may I help you?"
(5)Bryan W.
Great food at a great price. Tico's is a local favorite. I try to go everytime I am in Salinas. $2.50 for beer! $0.93 for chips. $3.00 for the mexican burrito with a meat of your choice. You can't afford not to eat there. The chile verde, chile colorado and chicken are good choices for the burrito. The super nachos are really good too. Most of the plates are great ... I like the #12 ... taco and a burrito azada with rice and beans.
(5)Alena P.
Veggie burrito was lacking big time, and they gave it to me in a giant styrofoam box.
(1)Matt B.
I will start by saying that Tico's would get three stars from me even if they didn't serve their sweet luscious beans. But since they do, they definitely get a five star rating hands down. This is a no-frills simple kind of joint. Exactly what I want, and need when I go to town on my old friend...the bean and cheese burrito. Now of course the chile rellano and enchiladas are fantastic too. However, I come to Tico's for one reason...the bean and cheese burrito. My wife tells me that they have been family owned and operated for as long as she can remember. Just another reason to support this place.
(5)Marcel D.
gut bomb!
(3)Brian G.
So here's the thing. I ordered a chicken burrito, which I expected would have beans, rice, and cheese or some combination of the three. What I got was a tortilla filled with chicken. No beans, no rice, no cheese, just straight up chicken. When I proceeded to ask them about it they told me that I should've ordered the Mexican chicken burrito and refused to change the order. I sat there confused and thought to myself "Is this not a mexican restaurant, doesn't it go without saying that you serve mexican burritos?"
(1)Deane and Natasha S.
Was my usual stop before I left for MPC. Good food at very low prices. The atmosphere is nothing special but hey, your not paying for that anyway! I haven't been by in a couple of years but I do remember the menu so that should tell you something.
(4)