Flacos — Restaurant in Berkeley

came for the vegan variety, but was disappointed. just go to a real taqueria and order no cheese. maybe it’s just what we ordered but if you’ve had good taquitos/ tacos/ rice/ beans before you’ll probably be disappointed too. feel like the positive reviews were ppl who’ve never had good mexican before. the service was good tho! taquitos were just a long dry piece of crispy alt protein in a fried shell, not even an actual filling with spices. the avocado crema(?) or maybe it was salsa was flavorless and watery so order more spicy and expect it to be low on the spices. the rice was also pretty dry and flavorless, not normal spanish rice, pale like not enough ingredients and spices were used. the black beans were ok, definitely the most flavorful thing we got but still just tasted like watery canned seasoned black beans. the tacos were 90% cabbage and also lacking flavor, though the tortilla was good. even the jamaica was watered down, like idk maybe we got the end of day leftovers but I was sad I spent money in this meal. Be sure to get extra salsa if you do...

A second chance. The first time I had Flaco's I was a bacon loving self professed carnitas lover. I still love bacon but I'm now vegan/vegetarian and so I've given up meat. I didn't like the tofu/fake meat in my taquitos then but now that I've grown accustomed to plant based whole foods, I LOVE Flaco's!

Flaco's has a parking lot so I didn't have to stress to find parking with the Berkeley flea market happening right across the street at the Ashby BART Station. The restaurant is dog friendly (no wonder a lot of PETA staffers like eating here) and so I brought my little chihuahua corgi who tried to his best to look cute for scraps. No luck. ;)

I ordered the taco combo plate with pinto beans, brown rice and salad and a chunky fresa agua frescas. The wait was a little long but the food was worth the wait. The tables and chairs are a bit worn but the outside patio is charming. Next time I'll order the huaraches, which is basically a giant salad, and the taquitos with...

Today I was sitting outside eating my "four and four" (four tacos and four taquitos), which is a lot of food for lunch, but I have a pretty active evening ahead . . .

So as I said, I was sitting outside Flaco's eating my delicious lunch (good goddess are the fresh-made maza amazing!) when Russell Brand comes walking up. He steps through the trees between the sidewalk and the tables, and sits down and starts chatting me up. He could see I was pretty much in seventh heaven with a mouthful of vegan taquito (and the medium sauce should be sold by the GALLON!), so he tells me about a rather happening dance event every Wednesday in Oakland (you'll have to see my other reviews to find out where exactly) that he regularly attends. Kind of funny because I didn't actually say anything to him about how much I enjoy dancing. But anyways, he gets up, walks in to Flaco's and that was my lunch-time run-in with someone you may have heard of, right here in...