Taqueria Extra — Restaurant in Fremont

Taqueria Extra: Fremont's Hidden Birria Gem

The distinctive name "Taqueria Extra" immediately caught my attention, promising something beyond the ordinary taqueria experience. Located in Fremont, this compact establishment has quickly become my new favorite Mexican food destination, thanks to their exceptional birria and commitment to authentic preparation methods.

Walking in during their happy hour taco special, I was immediately drawn to the sight of birria still bubbling away in large pots- a promising sign that this wasn't going to be reheated, mass-produced fare. That first glimpse into their kitchen set expectations that were thoroughly exceeded with every bite.

The queso birria taco was nothing short of extraordinary. The tender, flavorful meat paired with melted cheese created a harmonious blend that was both rich and satisfying. What truly impressed me was the consommé - deeply flavorful yet remarkably light, with minimal fat content that allowed the complex spices and slow-cooked beef essence to shine through. This attention to technique elevated what could have been a heavy dish into something genuinely special.

Their street tacos, ordered "with everything," delivered exceptional value and taste. Each bite was packed with authentic flavors that transported me straight to the streets of Mexico. The super burrito with birria deserves particular praise - after years of disappointing burritos that fall apart within minutes, this one maintained its structural integrity for hours while delivering consistent flavor throughout.

The generous portions included fresh crema, perfectly seasoned guacamole, and well-prepared rice and beans that complemented rather than competed with the star ingredients.

However, the experience wasn't without minor frustrations. Signs throughout the restaurant imposed various restrictions—two bowls per order, one plate of chips per person - that felt unnecessarily limiting and somewhat off-putting. While I understand the need for portion control during busy periods, the abundance of restrictive signage detracted from the otherwise welcoming atmosphere.

Despite the small space being packed during our visit, the restaurant maintained impressive cleanliness standards. Tables were promptly wiped down with industrial-strength cleaner, and remarkably, there were no lingering food odors - clear indicators that hygiene is taken seriously.

Taqueria Extra has earned a permanent spot on my Fremont dining rotation. The exceptional birria alone justifies return visits, and I'm eager to explore more of their...

Food is good, service not so much. I placed an order by phone for myself and my coworkers and went to pick it up. When I got back to work, I noticed I was missing an item. I called and they offered I could go back to pick it up or they can give it to me another day, I just had to save the receipt. I went back to pick it up, because, well I was hungry. I went in and told the lady I was there to pick up my missing item, the lady behind her grabbed the bag and dropped it on the counter. No sorry, no here you go, not a word, and not even a soda for having to drive back on my lunch break because of THEIR mistake. Mind you, there was only 1 other customer in there waiting for their order, so it's not like the cashiers were too busy to apologize.

Pésimo servicio. Ordené por telefono para mis compañeras de trabajo y para mí. Cuando llegué al trabajo y abrí las bolsas, vi que me faltaba algo. Les llamé para avisarles y regrese a recogerlo. Cuando llegué, les dije que venía a recoger la comida que me faltaba y una de las señoras, sin decir una sola palabra, dejó caer la bolsa de comida en la mesa. Ni siquiera se disculpó por el error ni una gaseosa por la molestia. Yo no fui grosera con ella, no sé por qué ella lo fue conmigo pero no importa, ya no regresaremos...

Review written during COVID-19, DoorDash order (~30 minutes - they didn't accept the orders until we went in, which caused an additional delay)

Thank you to everyone at Taqueria Limon for showing up and helping out at such times!

Overall: the restaurant seems to have a good following. There were many people waiting in line and eating in the cars. Good sign.

Food:

Pastor Tacos - good size tortillas, and heaps of meat. But it's premade pastor - that is reheated on the grill. When you do this, it shrivels up the meat, makes it a bit chewy and dries it out.

Flavor was different, but as we're seeing, every Mexican place seems to have their own recipe for pastor. They also didn't give you the popular piece of pineapple, which actually adds to the taste.

Pastor Burrito - it was okay. Nothing to write home about - the flavors didn't really come out. The pro was, it wasn't a ginormous burrito which you have to navigate through. It was just enough to enjoy the meal, but did find it was a bit off proportion (too much rice).

Bean and Cheese Burrito - just your average burrito. The cheese seemed to be on the bottom end, not evenly distributed to melt in with the beans. But the beans were also a bit bland. Ended up using a good...