The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday at noon.
Today’s question:
QUESTION: Happy Cinco de Mayo! What’s your favorite Mexican restaurant in Contra Costa County?
Talk about it.
Salsa Verde, located at 970 Detroit Avenue in Concord.
Salsa Verde is located about a quarter of a mile south of Costco and the southern end of Detroit Avenue. Also, Salsa Verde’s owner, Humberto is a very cool man!!
I second that! The molcajete dish is to die for…
http://www.salsaverdecuisine.com
I tried Salsa Verde based on recommendations from Claycord last year. I don’t get it. Food was mediocre, and when I asked the owner what he recommended on the menu to ensure I ordered something he thought was exceptional, he bristled and told me ‘everything is recommended, I wouldn’t put anything on the menu I don’t recommend”.
OK, I get it, but he had to know what I was asking.
IMO, not worth a trip back. Average.
Los Arcos taqueria. I love the tacos Tuesday. Weekend menudo+beers.
Yes love that place! Definitely our favorite
C. C. Ole’s, of course.
👍🏻
I do miss CC Ole’s..
And I actually miss El torito too.
My favorite choice now would be Luna Loca in Danville.
Guadalara Grill!!! Keep those (strong) margaritas and their chips and salsa coming!
Gross Gringo food. Expensive Taco Bell essentially.
Los Tacos de Panchos in Concord. Their mole is amazing!
Yes!
Cinco de Mayo has also been good when I have kids to feed as well.
El Molino Taqueria
+1
But I might check out some of the others too.
+2 …but also Los Panchos
Tacos El Patron.
.
The Mecca in Pittsburg (in my opinion).
.
Oh yeah, The Mecca….been there…. yes, pretty good!
El Aguila in Pleasant Hill.
100% the owner/chef is a magician in the kitchen and a great fellow. Everything I have had there is excellent.
Yes if you are looking for quality and fresh ingredients, check out El Aguila! I get 2 steak, 2 pork and 2 tinga tacos! Great and friendly people work there! Thank you El Aguila for the deliciousness!
Mercado del Sol on Monument
Los Panchos
Taqueria Puebla Magica is too notch
I just happen to like Taco Bell beef and bean burritos. Here is the part I don’t get. Even though they have Mexican women folding the burritos not one of them can fold them so the bottom doesn’t fall out. Just don’t get it.
El Charro was our favorite but we haven’t tried the one in Walnut Creek yet.
In order of Favorite
Cinco de Mayo, Dana Estates
El Molino Taqueria, Monument Blvd Concord
Tacos El Patron, Monument Blvd Concord
El Tapatio, Golf Club Road Pleasant Hill
The Mecca, Pittsburg
El Charro that used to be in Lafayette
Not Contra Costa, but found this Taco Truck in Oakland one day
and fell in love, Tacos La San Marqueña 1975 Webster St.
Forget about the food, who has the best margaritas? Was just in Joshua Tree park, had dinner at Joshua Tree Saloon, not a Mexican restaurant, but great food and margaritas.
Mercado de Sol
yep
I second that.
This list is awesome, I have also been to that Taco Truck on Webster. Amazing food!
La Tapitio on Willow Pass Rd. Concord.
@Old Timer….It’s used to be alright about 30:years ago, stopped going because I was tired of battling the cucarachas for the tortilla chips.
Huevos Rancheros is very good.
OK I’ll say it…Taco Bell
Gotta be Taco Bell.
Just be prepared for the bottom of your burrito to fall apart.
Guadalajara Grill in the Clayton Valley Shopping Center use to be the Best in the West. They were at their top of the game when they had the small restaurant. Hot Plate!!!
Since I’ve not eaten in every Mexican restaurant in Contra Costa County I really can’t say which is my favorite.
I do know that I usually go to Taco Panch when I want Mexican food. I do like their food, service, and cleanliness.
As for favorites, I like one in Santa Curz and another in Moro Bay the best.
very disappointed in the New El Charro in WC. They bought the blue cheese dip recipe and artifavts, but kept the old masty Maria Maria food, but smaller portions and more expensive.
Atmosphere is not the same as the old Charro. So sad the family members and staff were stealing from their own family and caused bankrupcy/.
+1 …said that from the beginning and the location is poor imho…. get out of downtown WC
First of all it’s true that the new El Charro bought the name and did not earn the reputation and it’s just awful in Walnut Creek. The second truth is that it’s not true that people from their own family stole from the restaurant!! They lost their business because of the pandemic I happen to know the family personally. They did a fabulous job when they ran the business and everybody misses them they are dearly loved.
A lot of great ones! One of the few benefits of living in California
No foolin’
I’ll trade y’all a Cracker Barrel for a decent authentic Mexican restaurant.
Los Panchos in Danville.
Try Mazatlan in Hercules off Willow…
Best Mexican resturant in my book in CoCo County is hands down Cocina Medina out in Antioch. AMAZING AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD!!!
My dad, my late mom, and myself all know the owner Rafael and his wife Allie.
Rafael was actually a waiter at Guadalajara before he and Allie opened their own place.
My dad likes the chile colorado and I love the quesadillas.
All of Claycord should go check them out
El Tapatio on Golf Club Road.
Sol y Luna on Oak Park Boulevard.
Celias in Antioch
There was a place in the Park N Shop (?) mall next to, near Las Montanas store, but cannot remember to the name, used to be our go to, then must have changed management and something was different. This was several years ago now, and not sure if they have returned to their better days. I appreciate everyone’s recommendations above, as we have not found a go to place. My kids like Tacos Walnut Creek. They are good, but can easily be replaced (in our minds) by something better.
I think this is Taqueria los Gallos? The one in downtown concord, I personally think is better.
I would say Tortilleria El Molino on Monument, and for birria, Carnes Jalisco on Solano Way. Unfortunately, Carnes Jalisco was a victim of the COVID lockdowns and never recovered. The woman who worked there made a mean quesabirria. I hope they reopen at some point.
Los Panchos!
Tacos by Pancho in the Terminal Shopping Center – next to the vacant tenant space where Alpine Pastry was!
The service is great, personnel are great and “Chuy” is a great server!
There’s a fair amount of really good ones in the county for sure. La Primavera in Martinez will always remain a home favorite for me. El Aguila in Pleasant Hill is also very good but been a while since I’ve been there.
El Faro on Monument. Best burritos ever!
I moved out of California almost 3 years ago. And one of the few things I miss is El Faro! On Monument . Nobody makes a “
“Beans , Rice , Cheese and Guacamole Burrito “ like the nice,
sweet ladies who work there!
Taqueria Y Carniceria, Martinez, CA
3830 Pacheco Blvd. Martinez, CA 94553 (next to the smog shop)
The soft taco’s are delicious. Don’t let the looks fool ‘ya…
Mecca. No question.
They’ve been great for soooo many years!
Before they closed, El Farolito next to the fire station downtown Concord was soooo good! Love the Mecca, Cinco de Mayo Dana plaza, El Tapatio Golf Club Rd., dang…I know there are more…I used to love Los Panchos, but the flavor has been just meh the past couple times. Oh the place on Pacheco Blvd by Monument Auto Parts. Forgot the name.
El Faro in Concord, Best Burritos.
TZUNUN, Pleasant Hill
OUTSTANDING!
El Tapati onGlof Club Rd., Pleasant Hill