El Jefe's Taqueria - Boston Common — Restaurant in Boston

Tucked away in the bustling heart of North Hollywood, Birrieria Familia Castro isn't just a taqueria—it's a love letter to Tijuana's smoky, soul-stirring birria tradition, and as of 2025, it's officially been crowned the nation's best taco spot by Yelp's data wizards. I stumbled in on a crisp October afternoon, the kind where the LA sun hangs low and begs for something warm and indulgent. What I got was pure magic: a no-frills counter, the sizzle of a trompo spinning in the back, and an aroma of spiced beef and consommé that hits you like a gentle gut punch of nostalgia.

Let's talk tacos, because that's where this place shines brighter than a fresh quesabirria dip. The star is their signature birria de res—hand-stewed for three to four hours daily in a bath of chiles, garlic, and cumin that renders the meat so incredibly tender it practically melts off the bone. Reviewers (and now me) rave about how it's "packed with savory spices," every bite a harmonious explosion of richness without overwhelming the palate. Dip it in their house consommé—cloudy, fatty, and laced with cilantro and onion—and you've got portable perfection for under $5 a pop. I went for the classic consommé-dunked version, paired with a side of their neon-orange salsa that adds just the right fiery kick. Pro tip: Get the quesabirria if you're feeling extra; the stretchy Oaxaca cheese crisps up like a dream, turning it into a handheld hug.

But it's not all birria here—the menu's a choose-your-own-adventure of al pastor, carnitas, and lengua, all grilled to order on that glorious vertical spit. The al pastor, marinated in pineapple and achiote, arrives juicy and caramelized, wrapped in a corn tortilla that's clearly made fresh (none of that store-bought chewiness). Portions? Generous enough to share, but why would you? Sides like elote and fresh guac keep things lively, and their horchata is the creamiest I've had in years—sweet, cinnamony, and the ideal chaser for the spice.

What elevates Birrieria Familia Castro from great to transcendent is the vibe: family-run with zero pretension, where the staff greets you like old amigos and the line moves fast despite the hype. It's the kind of spot that reminds you why taquerias are the unsung heroes of street food—affordable joy in every wrapper. If you're in LA (or road-tripping through), make the pilgrimage. Your taste buds will thank you, and you'll leave plotting your next visit. Five stars,...

I rarely write reviews, but my experience at El Jefe’s Taqueria today left me frustrated enough to make an exception.

From the start, the entire process felt rushed and disorganized. When we asked for just a bit more lettuce—literally more than the three strands they put on—we were told it would cost extra. We declined, but then a second employee added more lettuce anyway. Despite us saying no, we were still charged extra because the first worker had already placed a green sticker on our plate. The whole thing felt arbitrary and honestly like a scam.

For context, we speak both English and Spanish fluently, so this wasn’t a language barrier issue—it was just poor service and a lack of basic customer courtesy.

The food itself? It’s fine if you think Chipotle is good. It’s nothing to write home about, especially given the hassle we went through.

The worst part, though, came at the register. Our total was over $60, and the POS system prompted us to enter a phone number to collect loyalty points—which would’ve amounted to nearly $6 off a future order. But before we could even enter our number, the cashier rushed us through and cleared the screen. When we asked about it, the manager told us, “We’re not responsible for the point system,” and that was that. No help, no credit, no apology.

What really gets to me is that we weren’t even told about the points system upfront—and then we were actively denied access to it. I can’t help but wonder how many customers are unknowingly cheated out of their points this way. It almost feels like a deliberate tactic. A plan with malice? Maybe. It certainly felt shady enough.

We’re the kind of people who always tip well and try to support local businesses, but I won’t be back somewhere that nickel-and-dimes its customers while offering so little in return. The principle matters more than the $6—and this place failed...

Solid spot for simple Mexican food downtown. Came here for lunch on New Years Day, so it was pretty quiet.

I got a bowl with tons of topping and it was pretty darn good. Mexican rice, black beans, chorizo, cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, pickled red onions, jalapenos, cabbage, and red/green salsas. There were more toppings I didn't add that would've made my bowl an even bigger monster. Each topping is good, but the chorizo is a miss for me. I suppose I was expecting crumbled chorizo, but it came in the form of slices that weren't the greatest texturally. I'd suggest going for a different meat. In general I'm not going to say the food here is super authentic or high-quality because really I have no idea. But it was for sure tasty.

The bowl was something like $10.50, plus a few more bucks for a Jarritos soda. It was a good amount of food, enough that I didn't finish it there. Was it as much food as a Chipotle bowl? Not quite. But the variety of the meat and topping options, plus the roughly equal price to Chipotle, plus the area (downtown) makes this place a good value.

The place itself was nice; someone was cleaning each table whenever anybody got up. There's a lot of "stuff" on the walls and as decoration, so it's a nice spot to hang out and enjoy the art/colors. The music was fun, but on the loud side.

There wasn't much in the way of "service", just one person assembling my bowl. He was... fine? Did the job but definitely gave off a "I don't want to be here" vibe. Not a big deal, but a bit of a bummer.

I would gladly come back, but I might try another Mexican restaurant in...