The place is very clean but the best thing was the food, it was amazing and the girl who helped us was super friendly Cecilia. super delicious.
(5)
Kate S.
My husband and I came here hoping for some good tacos and salsa, and were very disappointed. We ordered carne asada and carnitas tacos, a bean and cheese burrito in green sauce, chips, salsa, and horchata. The bean and cheese burrito was passable; messing this up would be REALLY difficult. I certainly wouldn't come back for it, but it was a filling lunch and the green enchilada sauce was good. The tacos, however, were terrible. Both of them arrived rolled up like burritos and wrapped in paper, and both were overloaded with cold guacamole and pico de gallo. The corn tortillas were spongy and not fresh. While the carne asada was just "okay," the carnitas was inedible. We literally threw the taco away. The meat was gamey in a way that pork shouldn't be, and my husband worried that he'd get sick if he finished it. The chips were fine, and the salsas were all right. Neither of the salsas labeled "hot" were even medium-spicy, though. All of the salsas were quite bland. The horchata was the best part of the meal. I seriously doubt we'll be returning. I am shocked at how many people refer to this place as "authentic" in their reviews! Where have you been eating? Comparing this place to the tacos we ate in Mexico would be a food crime.
(2)
Alex H.
Disappointing. Salsas were bland, chips tasted of stale oil, meat was gristly and had an unpleasant aroma, and the tortillas tasted like they were bought at the supermarket. I tend to like divey taco spots but this wasn't good at all.
(1)
Tatiana G.
I've been coming here since I was little. It's a cute, small, family owned restaurant. The employees are nice run the restaurant well. They have several types of salsa to go with their fresh made chips. My favorite is the sweet mild salsa, but my husband loves the pico de gallo. They also have pickled carrots which are surprisingly awesome. I ALWAYS get the chicken chimichanga. It's my favorite chimichanga from any restaurant. It's perfectly crunchy on the outside and filled with beans, chicken and lots of melted cheese.
(5)
Lunani Y.
This place is terrible! The tacos came rolled up like little burritos. What?!? Also, one of the "tacos" was cold when they served it to us; at least they quickly gave another one. Like another user said, tastes like boiled meat. I don't remember it being terrible the first time I went, but indefinitely won't be back after this time. One star for having different salsa options in the salsa bar.
(1)
Isla G.
After driving by many times and wondering if we should give it a try, we finally decided to give it a go. What can I say? It wasn't terrible, and it certainly wasn't great. We tried all their tacos and thought the carne asada and chicken were pretty good. The others...not so great. The salsa bar was decent (the hot red and green sauces are just like Beto's). Honestly, I don't think we'll be back. I think you can get much better Mexican food in the area for the price. If you do go, check the prices and check your receipt. The menu on the wall said certain canned drinks were one price ($1.59?), but they'll charge you $1.99 for any canned drinks. Not a biggie, but still not cool.
(2)
Lara L.
Ok listen I don't know why there is people giving this place a good review at all I don't even know how is this place open! Been wanting to try this place for a fast lunch. It was fast, my wife (she let me use her acct. to write this review) is still nauseous . This place is disgusting and is a great example of what people in Utah Valley are willing to accept as Mexican food. Any one of the nasty Betos , fluoribetos, any etos will beat this place. And all of the ..etos suck. I lived in East LA and I'll say that if you want a nice burrito and taco go to Laura's Kitchen in Provo they are homemade, delicious and good price. If you want to keep disgusting taco shops open that sell old dogfood-quality-meat chimiChangas or whatever they call them now, please go to Azteca and buy a dozen.
(1)
Kassi K.
It's really authentic. I had a Carne asada taco. And taquitos. But the horchata and pineapple drink are gross.
(3)
Blaze T.
Get the NACHOS! The meat is higher quality than other mexican restaurants in the area, everything here is good but the nachos are amazing. Make sure you have someone to help eat them because even the half order is big enough for 2
(5)
Rocio H.
I like the food. Its a great place for those I want Mexican food without having to cook it.
(4)
Stan P.
This place is one of the best Mexican places I've been to! I love their nachos and salads,the meats they put on there are flavorful and season to perfection!,the salsa bar really fresh and has some unique options,the Mexican sodas are outstanding I try to come here at least once a week it's that good!
(4)
Chris G.
My whole family loves to eat here! It is a family owned restaurant, and they care about their food and their customers. I love their beans and rice, the fresh salsa is fantastic, and I have not eaten anything here that I did not like. My favorite is the chicken enchilada and chicken taco plate (both soft and crunchy tacos are great)! This is a great value; really good food for a really good price. I am a happy repeat customer for years and will continue to frequent this place.
(4)
Charles S.
El Azteca is a pretty good value. Their combo meals include a drink and a bag of chips. I had the combination plate with two beef tacos, rice and beans. The amount of beef in the tacos was pretty skimpy... about half of what you would expect from this type of taco shop. They have excellent rice and beans, infused with tons of flavor. Yum! The salsa bar is nice and clean, but the salsas don't have much heat or variety. Overall, this place is A-OK, but there are just too many better options for me to ever stop in again.
(3)
Alan D.
I've got a problem with mexican restaurants. To me, they all taste about the same. I can't tell the difference between the beans and rice from place to place, let alone the entrees. There are a few exceptions. El Azteca has been around for over 40 years, and thats impressive. They must be doing something right. I got the carne asada tacos, my wife got the taco salad and we sampled a 1/2 nacho platter, and it was ok. It wasn't bad, it wasn't great. meh, I've experienced better. The guacamole was short on flavor, but the chips were thick and crisp. The tortillas weren't soft, and the carne asada didn't have much taste. The pluses were the food was fast, and it was cheaper than if we went to a sit down mexican restaurant by a few bucks and more than likely coulda go the same food. Fast, mexican food. That what El Azteca is. Don't go in with illusions. Not all that impressed, but it certainly wasn't terrible.
(2)
Bonnie C.
We love Azteca in Colorado so when we found El Azteca we thought this might be good. I ordered the California burrito and my husband the Al Pastor - we didn't even eat all of our burritos. We eat a lot of Mexican food and this restaurant I wish we drove by and skipped. Cafe Rio was better and Azteca in Colorado is sooo much better.
(1)
Kurt J.
So I stopped by because I love their corn chips. Sorry, but real tastes better. They are fresh and just have the best crunch and taste in all the land. Placing them under some yummy sweet pork and cheeses smothered with fresh salsa and I am a happy man. Thanks El Azteca! Great meal...
(4)
Adam B.
You get a lot for your money here. Clean tables, cozy atmosphere, convenient location. Also, reliably delicious food.
(5)
Eric J.
I have been going to El Azteca for over 17 years! Anytime you can find a place to eat that you continue to go to month after month and year after year, to say nothing of taking your wife to be there over a decade ago, and now the kids ask for it by name- my 4 yr boy said just yesterday he wanted to come here instead of Cafe Rio-- its a winner. The food remains great, and I have had nearly everything on the menu. But the people are great too. I have fond memories (1997) of the bean & cheese burrito, smothered in green sauce, with a side of rice dumped on top- both me and my brother each putting away the entire thing. He still drives down from SLC to have the same thing. Being from So Cal we have certain standards that must be met for us to eat Mexican food--this place is top of the list. With lots of choices for salsa and even dessert you can't go wrong.
(5)
Yulister F.
Best nachos in the Orem area. I've gone to pretty much every Mexican restaurant in Orem and they are by far the best nachos. They put betos to shame. There is no comparing the two
(5)
Logan T.
Feels to me like Del Taco meets legit mom-and-pop taco shop. In a state and county SATURATED in Mexican fare, this place really is a good retreat. Not as greasy and scary as places like Beto's (though Beto's/Richardo's is heavenly) and not at stale and homogenized as Del Taco, Taco Bell etc. It manages to feel authentic without scaring those who no hablo espanol.
(4)
Lucky B.
My husband likes it a lot and has taken business partners here because they do too. If I would've known about the Pozole, I would've gotten that instead of the chicken chimichanga (the chicken is seasoned just right). LOVE the garnish/salsa bar (try a pickled carrot).
(4)
Mark T.
This place is exceptionally good. Its delicious and authentic. I loved how clean it is and how good the food was. I've been a frequent customer for the last 2 years when I discovered this little mexican piece of heaven. Try their enchiladas, they are fantastic. Absolutely recommend it!
(5)
Landon F.
This IS the place for mexican food in utah county. I eat here at least once a week. My wife and I have been known to drive down from slc just to eat here. My favorite are the crunch beef taco's but I haven't had anything bad here. There mild salsa, although not spicy, is the best salsa I have ever had and if you are lucky enough to be here when they have their in house pineapple juice you must get it. All of their juices taste like what they say they are. I had their watermelon juice and it tasted just like watermelon, but the pineapple is by far the best. Also the tres leches is really good. Forget those fancy chain joints and start going here.
(5)
Charles W.
My wife likes this place a lot more than I do. Typical paper-plate mexican food. The chips and salsa are the best part. Nothing to get too excited about, but I do like it a lot better than Beto's.
(3)
Ryan S.
after committing to finding a decent fish taco in Utah county, I found a sign posted in El Azteca stating that they have the best fish taco in the county. and yet I failed to order the fish taco because 1) there was something about that sign I didn't quite trust and 2) I was already dead set on the milanesa. sorry. El Azteca does a good job of providing a number of near authentic Mexican dishes as well as several orange cheese heavy gringo-friendly menu items. I'm not entirely clear on the quality of all of those items because I really only use El Azteca to get my torta de milanesa fix. torta de milanesa consists of a fried and breaded beef cutlet with beans, avocado, tomato, onions and crema on a telera roll. I like to add a bunch of sliced and pickled jalapeños to that mix. in any form it is a sandwich of awesomeness and El Azteca uses a really good roll and makes it possible to obtain the awesome without leaving your car (via drive-thru). so, while everything else might be entirely unpalatable, the sandwich gets four stars. uncertainty and suspicion leads me to bump the final rating down a bit.
(3)
Aimee G.
Good Mexican food at a great price! Plus, they have a drive through, so you can get it in a hurry. I always get the chicken burrito with hot sauce. It's the best chicken burrito I have found, and it is really big. I eat half for lunch and I save the other half for dinner, it's truly filling.
(5)
Lauren P.
One of the best Mexican food places I've found in the area...and trust me, they're hard to find. Unfortunately, Utah doesn't have much to choose from when it comes to GOOD, authentic Mexican food, but this place was pretty good. I will be back. UPDATES: We have been going here a lot (probably too much) lately, and I have discovered that they serve posole! It is a Mexican soup with hominy and pork and it's my favorite. I definitely recommend it.
(4)
Jack M.
Their tacos, while fresh and homemade, were utterly messy and hard to eat. The food was good - I had a few different tacos and one of those pepper things with the stuff inside. I don't know if I'd recommend them offhand, but I know some people love the place. Just be prepared with a bunch of napkins when the taco falls apart!
(3)
Andrew S.
Great food, authentic flavor, friendly staff. I really enjoy eating here. I have lived in Orem for about 8 years now and started eating here about 5 years ago. I have had almost everything on the menu and love all of it.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
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.
Sanyer S.
The place is very clean but the best thing was the food, it was amazing and the girl who helped us was super friendly Cecilia. super delicious.
(5)Kate S.
My husband and I came here hoping for some good tacos and salsa, and were very disappointed. We ordered carne asada and carnitas tacos, a bean and cheese burrito in green sauce, chips, salsa, and horchata. The bean and cheese burrito was passable; messing this up would be REALLY difficult. I certainly wouldn't come back for it, but it was a filling lunch and the green enchilada sauce was good. The tacos, however, were terrible. Both of them arrived rolled up like burritos and wrapped in paper, and both were overloaded with cold guacamole and pico de gallo. The corn tortillas were spongy and not fresh. While the carne asada was just "okay," the carnitas was inedible. We literally threw the taco away. The meat was gamey in a way that pork shouldn't be, and my husband worried that he'd get sick if he finished it. The chips were fine, and the salsas were all right. Neither of the salsas labeled "hot" were even medium-spicy, though. All of the salsas were quite bland. The horchata was the best part of the meal. I seriously doubt we'll be returning. I am shocked at how many people refer to this place as "authentic" in their reviews! Where have you been eating? Comparing this place to the tacos we ate in Mexico would be a food crime.
(2)Alex H.
Disappointing. Salsas were bland, chips tasted of stale oil, meat was gristly and had an unpleasant aroma, and the tortillas tasted like they were bought at the supermarket. I tend to like divey taco spots but this wasn't good at all.
(1)Tatiana G.
I've been coming here since I was little. It's a cute, small, family owned restaurant. The employees are nice run the restaurant well. They have several types of salsa to go with their fresh made chips. My favorite is the sweet mild salsa, but my husband loves the pico de gallo. They also have pickled carrots which are surprisingly awesome. I ALWAYS get the chicken chimichanga. It's my favorite chimichanga from any restaurant. It's perfectly crunchy on the outside and filled with beans, chicken and lots of melted cheese.
(5)Lunani Y.
This place is terrible! The tacos came rolled up like little burritos. What?!? Also, one of the "tacos" was cold when they served it to us; at least they quickly gave another one. Like another user said, tastes like boiled meat. I don't remember it being terrible the first time I went, but indefinitely won't be back after this time. One star for having different salsa options in the salsa bar.
(1)Isla G.
After driving by many times and wondering if we should give it a try, we finally decided to give it a go. What can I say? It wasn't terrible, and it certainly wasn't great. We tried all their tacos and thought the carne asada and chicken were pretty good. The others...not so great. The salsa bar was decent (the hot red and green sauces are just like Beto's). Honestly, I don't think we'll be back. I think you can get much better Mexican food in the area for the price. If you do go, check the prices and check your receipt. The menu on the wall said certain canned drinks were one price ($1.59?), but they'll charge you $1.99 for any canned drinks. Not a biggie, but still not cool.
(2)Lara L.
Ok listen I don't know why there is people giving this place a good review at all I don't even know how is this place open! Been wanting to try this place for a fast lunch. It was fast, my wife (she let me use her acct. to write this review) is still nauseous . This place is disgusting and is a great example of what people in Utah Valley are willing to accept as Mexican food. Any one of the nasty Betos , fluoribetos, any etos will beat this place. And all of the ..etos suck. I lived in East LA and I'll say that if you want a nice burrito and taco go to Laura's Kitchen in Provo they are homemade, delicious and good price. If you want to keep disgusting taco shops open that sell old dogfood-quality-meat chimiChangas or whatever they call them now, please go to Azteca and buy a dozen.
(1)Kassi K.
It's really authentic. I had a Carne asada taco. And taquitos. But the horchata and pineapple drink are gross.
(3)Blaze T.
Get the NACHOS! The meat is higher quality than other mexican restaurants in the area, everything here is good but the nachos are amazing. Make sure you have someone to help eat them because even the half order is big enough for 2
(5)Rocio H.
I like the food. Its a great place for those I want Mexican food without having to cook it.
(4)Stan P.
This place is one of the best Mexican places I've been to! I love their nachos and salads,the meats they put on there are flavorful and season to perfection!,the salsa bar really fresh and has some unique options,the Mexican sodas are outstanding I try to come here at least once a week it's that good!
(4)Chris G.
My whole family loves to eat here! It is a family owned restaurant, and they care about their food and their customers. I love their beans and rice, the fresh salsa is fantastic, and I have not eaten anything here that I did not like. My favorite is the chicken enchilada and chicken taco plate (both soft and crunchy tacos are great)! This is a great value; really good food for a really good price. I am a happy repeat customer for years and will continue to frequent this place.
(4)Charles S.
El Azteca is a pretty good value. Their combo meals include a drink and a bag of chips. I had the combination plate with two beef tacos, rice and beans. The amount of beef in the tacos was pretty skimpy... about half of what you would expect from this type of taco shop. They have excellent rice and beans, infused with tons of flavor. Yum! The salsa bar is nice and clean, but the salsas don't have much heat or variety. Overall, this place is A-OK, but there are just too many better options for me to ever stop in again.
(3)Alan D.
I've got a problem with mexican restaurants. To me, they all taste about the same. I can't tell the difference between the beans and rice from place to place, let alone the entrees. There are a few exceptions. El Azteca has been around for over 40 years, and thats impressive. They must be doing something right. I got the carne asada tacos, my wife got the taco salad and we sampled a 1/2 nacho platter, and it was ok. It wasn't bad, it wasn't great. meh, I've experienced better. The guacamole was short on flavor, but the chips were thick and crisp. The tortillas weren't soft, and the carne asada didn't have much taste. The pluses were the food was fast, and it was cheaper than if we went to a sit down mexican restaurant by a few bucks and more than likely coulda go the same food. Fast, mexican food. That what El Azteca is. Don't go in with illusions. Not all that impressed, but it certainly wasn't terrible.
(2)Bonnie C.
We love Azteca in Colorado so when we found El Azteca we thought this might be good. I ordered the California burrito and my husband the Al Pastor - we didn't even eat all of our burritos. We eat a lot of Mexican food and this restaurant I wish we drove by and skipped. Cafe Rio was better and Azteca in Colorado is sooo much better.
(1)Kurt J.
So I stopped by because I love their corn chips. Sorry, but real tastes better. They are fresh and just have the best crunch and taste in all the land. Placing them under some yummy sweet pork and cheeses smothered with fresh salsa and I am a happy man. Thanks El Azteca! Great meal...
(4)Adam B.
You get a lot for your money here. Clean tables, cozy atmosphere, convenient location. Also, reliably delicious food.
(5)Eric J.
I have been going to El Azteca for over 17 years! Anytime you can find a place to eat that you continue to go to month after month and year after year, to say nothing of taking your wife to be there over a decade ago, and now the kids ask for it by name- my 4 yr boy said just yesterday he wanted to come here instead of Cafe Rio-- its a winner. The food remains great, and I have had nearly everything on the menu. But the people are great too. I have fond memories (1997) of the bean & cheese burrito, smothered in green sauce, with a side of rice dumped on top- both me and my brother each putting away the entire thing. He still drives down from SLC to have the same thing. Being from So Cal we have certain standards that must be met for us to eat Mexican food--this place is top of the list. With lots of choices for salsa and even dessert you can't go wrong.
(5)Yulister F.
Best nachos in the Orem area. I've gone to pretty much every Mexican restaurant in Orem and they are by far the best nachos. They put betos to shame. There is no comparing the two
(5)Logan T.
Feels to me like Del Taco meets legit mom-and-pop taco shop. In a state and county SATURATED in Mexican fare, this place really is a good retreat. Not as greasy and scary as places like Beto's (though Beto's/Richardo's is heavenly) and not at stale and homogenized as Del Taco, Taco Bell etc. It manages to feel authentic without scaring those who no hablo espanol.
(4)Lucky B.
My husband likes it a lot and has taken business partners here because they do too. If I would've known about the Pozole, I would've gotten that instead of the chicken chimichanga (the chicken is seasoned just right). LOVE the garnish/salsa bar (try a pickled carrot).
(4)Mark T.
This place is exceptionally good. Its delicious and authentic. I loved how clean it is and how good the food was. I've been a frequent customer for the last 2 years when I discovered this little mexican piece of heaven. Try their enchiladas, they are fantastic. Absolutely recommend it!
(5)Landon F.
This IS the place for mexican food in utah county. I eat here at least once a week. My wife and I have been known to drive down from slc just to eat here. My favorite are the crunch beef taco's but I haven't had anything bad here. There mild salsa, although not spicy, is the best salsa I have ever had and if you are lucky enough to be here when they have their in house pineapple juice you must get it. All of their juices taste like what they say they are. I had their watermelon juice and it tasted just like watermelon, but the pineapple is by far the best. Also the tres leches is really good. Forget those fancy chain joints and start going here.
(5)Charles W.
My wife likes this place a lot more than I do. Typical paper-plate mexican food. The chips and salsa are the best part. Nothing to get too excited about, but I do like it a lot better than Beto's.
(3)Ryan S.
after committing to finding a decent fish taco in Utah county, I found a sign posted in El Azteca stating that they have the best fish taco in the county. and yet I failed to order the fish taco because 1) there was something about that sign I didn't quite trust and 2) I was already dead set on the milanesa. sorry. El Azteca does a good job of providing a number of near authentic Mexican dishes as well as several orange cheese heavy gringo-friendly menu items. I'm not entirely clear on the quality of all of those items because I really only use El Azteca to get my torta de milanesa fix. torta de milanesa consists of a fried and breaded beef cutlet with beans, avocado, tomato, onions and crema on a telera roll. I like to add a bunch of sliced and pickled jalapeños to that mix. in any form it is a sandwich of awesomeness and El Azteca uses a really good roll and makes it possible to obtain the awesome without leaving your car (via drive-thru). so, while everything else might be entirely unpalatable, the sandwich gets four stars. uncertainty and suspicion leads me to bump the final rating down a bit.
(3)Aimee G.
Good Mexican food at a great price! Plus, they have a drive through, so you can get it in a hurry. I always get the chicken burrito with hot sauce. It's the best chicken burrito I have found, and it is really big. I eat half for lunch and I save the other half for dinner, it's truly filling.
(5)Lauren P.
One of the best Mexican food places I've found in the area...and trust me, they're hard to find. Unfortunately, Utah doesn't have much to choose from when it comes to GOOD, authentic Mexican food, but this place was pretty good. I will be back. UPDATES: We have been going here a lot (probably too much) lately, and I have discovered that they serve posole! It is a Mexican soup with hominy and pork and it's my favorite. I definitely recommend it.
(4)Jack M.
Their tacos, while fresh and homemade, were utterly messy and hard to eat. The food was good - I had a few different tacos and one of those pepper things with the stuff inside. I don't know if I'd recommend them offhand, but I know some people love the place. Just be prepared with a bunch of napkins when the taco falls apart!
(3)Andrew S.
Great food, authentic flavor, friendly staff. I really enjoy eating here. I have lived in Orem for about 8 years now and started eating here about 5 years ago. I have had almost everything on the menu and love all of it.
(4)