Jose's Tacos — Restaurant in Detroit

This was some of the best Mexican food I have ever had, in any city!

Jose's Tacos is a tiny little hole in the wall restaurant down a side street in Downtown Detroit - blink and you might miss it! There are take-out and dine-in options available, with a few tables both inside and outside the front entrance. It definitely seems to be a family-run place with a lot of pride in their food.

We were lucky enough to stumble across this gem when looking at reviews of Mexican restaurants in the city. It was a close walk (about 10 minutes) from our hotel, the GM Renaissance Centre. They have an extensive menu with Mexican favourites, as well as full breakfast options, and they open early (9 a.m.)!

We wanted an afternoon 'snack' so opted for the tacos with fried corn tortilla shells (beef, fish and chicken). They also had other hard and soft shell flour and corn tortilla options, as well as both fried and non-fried. The meat was so juicy and flavourful and the veggies were very fresh and tasty! They were not overly stuffed, but I found the amount of food to be filling enough. You can get up to three toppings, or pay an additional .25 for extra toppings. We also tried the house-made pineapple water and wow - it was absolutely outstanding! There were small pieces of fresh pineapple and it tasted like an amped up version of pineapple juice So refreshing on a hot and humid day.

We loved it so much we came back with friends before our flight left the next day. We opted to try a smothered burrito plate, regular burrito plate, enchilada/taco/tamale plate and a breakfast. The plates all came with refried beans (so creamy and flavourful) as well as Mexican rice (perfectly cooked). It was my first tamale, and I thought it was quite moist and delicious. The enchilada, tacos and burritos were all so tasty and perfectly cooked. The breakfast was also great! We found the portions to be the perfect amount of food.

The service was very friendly and knowledgeable- they were very happy to help with the menu and offer suggestions.

10 out of 10 recommend for a great Mexican...

Found this small taco place right before going out this past weekend. I guess because tacos have become so popular for restaurants lately I've jumped on the bandwagon and always seem to be looking for some tasty ones (for the record Imperial in Ferndale, Bakersfield in Detroit & Diego's in Shelby Two are past favorites). But this place is so very close to them...I'd probably place it as a tie with Diego's. This is listed under the sub heading "authentic" Mexican food. Of the 5 of us that went, we pretty much ordered every type of 🌮 they had. Beef, chicken, shrimp, El pastor, etc. All 5 of us walked away very impressed with the taste of these delicious tacos. 5 different types of shells as well. Tortilla, soft corn, soft flour, crunchy corn and crunchy flour. The crunchy flour she'll was one I haven't had or seen before and the texture was excellent. The price was cheap 2.50 per taco, the service was very fast and our service great. Add to that the cucumber water (that was free) and it's an amazing place for lunch or dinner. The place is very, very small. 5 tables I think is all they have so don't bring a large group. But definitely check this tiny,...

Among the myriad pleasures found in Detroit, and there are many, Jose's Tacos ranks as one of the finer quality eateries. Nestled in the heart of downtown, JT trades authenticity over commercial vapidity, never once feeling dull or grilling in its visual taste. Of course, it's the food that counts: being wholly lost in a dish that is a product of such careful imagination that, amidst all the chaos that is downtown, the inner logic of this impressive restaurant can produce a moment of such organic quietude.

Jose's Tacos is less a product of creativity than an act of creation. The accomplishment is without equal, but it’s the sublimation of those efforts into a deeply personal experience that is the lasting effect and elicits the compulsive desire to consume more and more of what it has to offer. Eating here, I could recall seeing my family in Mexico for the first time, the welcoming atmosphere and love brewed in every meal. Taking that first bite at Jose's Tacos, I'm still feeling like that...