Robertito's Taco Shop — Restaurant in Fresno

This place has improved significantly. It has been a safer and more pleasant experience visiting this restaurant since the City of Fresno removed all the homeless camps on the adjacent sidewalks. There is a driveway from the Effie Street side, but management blocked it off with a tall fence due to the homeless. That was most likely a security and privacy move for both the staff and the customers. You can only get in from the Tuolumne side. There is plenty of parking for those who drive.

If you take the bus, you can get here on the Q (#1) express bus or the #20 regular bus. Get off at or near Divisadero. Robertito's is just a block or two away behind the Arco station and the old car wash. Go to Tuolumne Street.

Robertito's Taco Shop has another location close to this on Abby Street just above McKenzie Avenue, but I do not recommend that one unless you speak fluent Spanish. They must not speak English well there, because they always got my order wrong. Also, they close much earlier than this location.

Since coming to the Robertito's at Effie and Tuolumne Streets, I have been a much happier customer. The clerks at the window are fluent in both English and Spanish, and they have never gotten my order wrong. The takeout window is open until 3:00am on certain nights. I am not sure of the rest of their hours.

The food here is excellent! It costs more than Taco Bell, but it is worth it! You get enough sometimes to save for another meal, which is a definite plus in today's economy.

One note about their menu outside. Chili Colorado is still shown, but they no longer have it. They do still have Chili Verde.

This is a good choice for Mexican food, and they will gladly customize your order if you have dietary restrictions. You can get your food without tomatoes, onions, sour cream, cheese, guacamole, salsa, or hot sauce.

The dining room used to be closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is open again. Masks are needed inside but not outside. The front door is not easy to open and may or may not be wheelchair accessible, but my walker fits through. There is no public restroom here, unfortunately. Still, I would come here again for takeout. The service is absolutely wonderful, and the food...

So, Robertito's restaurant(s) and I have a long history, but this particular location has been for me filled with a lot of rich tower lore about this specific shop and it's tricky location and elusive nature to actually find, but yet it's delicious rewards when found were epic! It all started for me after the bars closed in the Tower District in the 1980's. After a weekend night of chatter and making merriment in and around the town crowds, about midnight or 1 a.m., a few of us would look at each other, all thinking and then simultaneously out loud saying "secret taco shop?" Usually a rousing yes. Problem was, nobody ever had a clean route, maybe proven directions? No, so it was anyone's guess how to actually get there...intoxicated slightly perhaps, but if and when we were successful in our craving quest, to accidentally stumble upon it, well, then that would be a great time to feed and a good way to sober up before driving home and going to bed.

Today, while driving downtown, I was lost and the gps was wonky and estimating my current location, I was waiting for a long red light, and...there it was, right there, 100 feet in front of me, shining and beckoning me. I suddenly had my "Brigadoon" moment, as i haven't patronized that specific Robertito's in probably 3+ decades. I pulled in a little shocked and amazed and then giggled "I'm really gonna do this"!

Thanks for the memories of awesome food for a better drive home. To my surprise, the once awesome Chile Colorado Burrito Belly Bomber was unavailable bc "they haven't made it for awhile". I got the Chili Verde Burrito and yes it brought back an equal taste palate of delicious memories... but I guess some things on the menu weren't meant to stay around a loooong time anymore... kinda like...

Update: Now the owner has reduced himself the buying shill review scores. When you see this pattern on reviews, it's always fraud involved. The fake reviews just leave 5 stars and no words...they started appearing when this Robertitos location was about to dip into the 2's. Karma for the owner. Food quality and portions are still terrible.

The owner's current business plan of cheapskating the customer is on a crash course of disaster. Case in point, Asada Fries: Robertitos charges nearly $15 before taxes, and over the last 2 years, they completely reduced the amount of meat, sour cream and cheese they put on fries. Not to mention, they pre-cook the asada meat now. I don't know what genius came up with this idea, but if we wanted pre-cooked,over-priced, pseudo mexican food, we'd go to Taco Bell.

My guess is if Robertitos continues on the current plan, they're review scores will move from mid 3's (3.5-3.8) which most sites are currently reviewed at average of 3.5, to low 3's or possibly even high 2's. Go back to what got you there. What you don't do is have relative success, and then change. You dance with who...