CARINOS CORNER TAQUERIA — Restaurant in Bremerton

If you like tacos with flavor and real corn tortillas, GO HERE NOW. I'm a Kitsap local, and I want everyone to know about this place!!

There is this idea floating around in the collective that Mexican food in the PNW is flavorless, sad, and lacking in authenticity - kind of like when the local marine layer blocks out the sun for 8 months a year. Carino's Corner Taqueria crushes this stereotype. The food stands above every other taqueria I've tried in this county (most of them) and, dare I say, region (I eat a lot of tacos, alright). The tacos are flavorful, the homemade corn tortillas are soft, and the salsas fill that need for spice that most other establishments in this region sorely lack.

Yes, El Balcon, Mandelies, Taqueros, and La Poblanita have earned Bremerton cult followings; rightfully so, and they're all good for different reasons (mmmmm, curtido). Carino's Corner Taqueria deserves the same attention, admiration, and patronage. The food is on par with every great taco I've eaten in Southern California and the Yucatan Peninsula.

My coworkers and I visit for lunch weekly - it's phenomenal every time. Some days, the air is thick with smoke from the sizzling meats and you feel like you're in someones home kitchen, about to eat a carefully crafted meal with perfect char and a kick that will leave you wanting more. It's heavenly. I recommend the traditional tacos; the asada is my favorite. Their birria plate is also fantastic; my colleague is addicted!

It's a family run operation; go support our neighbors while going on a flavor journey that you'll wish...

I ordered a Carne Asada Dinner and a Burrito taco combo; what I received, was some of the best Mexican food in Kitsap. I actually requested the burrito be changed to a California burrito and the taco a burria taco, they happily accepted this change and got right to it. When it came time for the burrito, apparently the kitchen didn't know of the altered burrito request and made a standard, our cashier confirmed if it was the correct burrito only to find out it wasn't. He requested the kitchen make a new burrito California style but LET US KEEP THE EXTRA! Might have just been just a moment of individual kindness, but it meant a lot to my partner and I. And as I left, he thought I had also gotten a drink and ran after us to confirm, while I hadn't gotten one, just the thoughtfulness of making sure that we not only got all of our items, but the correct items, is entirely the reason I will absolutely...

I love small hole in the wall places like this. I spent a very short time in this restaurant as I was just picking up a take out order. With that said you can feel the pride in this place. The atmosphere feels like someone achieving their dream. Which is just awesome. I ordered a Cali burrito and was surprised with how large it was. This is how a burrito should be. It is very rare that I cannot finish a burrito, but this place has done it. Fortunately I have some left overs now. As far as flavor goes everything tasted great and the flavors came together well. The meat had a nice char which is kind of rare in restaurants around here. I look forward to coming back here....