Tacos Los Cholos Fullerton — Restaurant in Fullerton

Keep your wallet close when in this store! Let me start out by saying that the food is absolutely amazing and worth the money. However it wasn't the food that we had a problem with, let me explain. On October 6th 2022 we were on a vacation to Disneyland and stayed in Fullerton, CA. That evening we ate tacos at the Fullerton location. While there we had 2 ladies working the front of the house. One girl had a nose ring and was working the register and the other was working the dining room delivering food and cleaning tables. I would describe both interactions with these two ladies as meh. They weren't rude but they seemed apathetic in most regards and not eager to please...which is fine for this type of dinning. The problems started when we left the restaurant. Upon leaving my 10 year old daughter forgot to grab her purse and it took her an hour before she realized it. Knowing that her phone was in her purse I opened up my app and tracked the phone back to the taco shop. As I drove back to the store I called to inquire about the green little purse containing my daughter's phone. The voice on the phone sounded allot like nose ring girl but I can't be sure. I can only say that when I started to ask about the purse the person on the phone was very quick to say she didn't have it. Maybe realizing that the hastiness in answer seemed suspicious she then started asking normal follow-up questions like, where we sat, and the color of the purse, and ultimately proceeded to tell me that it was not turned in for a second time. I told her that I had tracked the phone back to the restaurant and that I was coming over to look around.

When I arrived at the restaurant I looked all over and it was not in the dining area or the bathroom. I then tried to make the phone ring but the music in the dining room was so loud that I couldn't hear anything. I then asked nose ring girl if she found it and quickly looked in both cubbies under the front desk for a second or two, then turned to me and said no. I left the dinning room and went to the neighboring businesses and asked them...wasn't there either. I then updated the tracking on the phone for the second time...it was still in the restaurant. So I went back in and looked again...nothing. Thinking that the purse may have been tossed in the trash I then went behind the store in the ally and looked through the boxes and dumpster, nothing. At my whit's end I went back into the store for the third time and this time I asked the other girl about my daughters green purse. This girl tried a little harder than nose ring girl. She looked under the desk in both compartments and rummaged around for a while searching. When she got up she apologized and told me it wasn't there. I then turned my phone around and showed her that the tracker was saying it was in the restaurant. Here is how the following conversation went:

Me: "I know it is in here. Could it be in the back?!" Her: "The back of what?" Me: "The restaurant...is it in the kitchen?" Her: "No, we would never take anything into the kitchen." Me: "It is here somewhere. Can anyone help me find this?"

At this time I could see nose ring girl was getting agitated listening to me talk to her coworker. She steps away from the register and looks in the middle cubby and immediately pulls out the green purse and askes, "Is this it?" to which I replied, "yes...thank you so much for helping me find it." And I left the store never to return again.

Now I am not saying that these two were trying to steal a 10 year old purse for grand total of $31 and a $50 cell phone that no one else would be able to use but I can tell you that both of these girls looked in that cubby, some more than once, and there are only two of them in the front of that building. So how did it end up in that cubby in the first place? One of them would have had to have put it in there. Anyway we spent $50 at this place and it seems they wanted a little bit more that what we paid for. We won't be going back no matter how great...

Watched some YouTube vids claiming Los Cholos to be the best taco in OC. To me it’s definitely up there but only cuz of the premium options, which are great and separates it from other taco spots.

My 1st visit I over-ordered trying the regular Asada and Pastor options, a mid-level Pork Belly and a premium ribeye. The premiums are an $8 taco! But it was definitely the best and only reason to come here as the Asada was just ok and the Pastor and Pork Belly disappointed.

I had just returned from 2 weeks in Puerto Vallarta and started searching for any and all best-of taco spots here at home.

Today, I revisited and got a Surf n Turf and Filet Mignon premium tacos. I also know which two salsa I liked (an orangy creamy one is the best and the hotter of the two reds is the other). Top notch tacos. Meat is cooked perfect with just enough seasoning.

Service is great. Lots of workers to keep the tables clean and the small and popular restaurant turned over.

However, I did have to rate the atmosphere lower due to reasons not necessarily in the restaurrant’s control because of patrons abusing the self-serve salsa and condiments bar.

One piece of advise would be to make it accessible on 2 sides of the bar instead of only 1 cuz of the abusers. There were 2 folks who had a small to-go bag of food but used about 30 salsa containers then got water cups and filled them with pico. No shame! But worse for other patrons is the time it took them to get all those. There was a long line behind them but they were focused on cleaning out the bar. I’m surprised they didn’t just have tupperware containers! Now that I wrote that, they might next time unless it’s policed a little bit.

Oh, also can we get premium tortillas with the premium tacos please? I’ll pay the $8 each taco cuz they’re delicious but a stonger or bigger tortilla would take it to...

Los Cholos Taqueria in Fullerton is an absolute gem and definitely top-tier in the taco industry. The ribeye tacos are, without a doubt, the best tacos I’ve ever had. The ribeye is perfectly cooked—tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor in every bite. When you add their signature green salsa and the side roasted chili, it’s pure magic. Seriously, it’s like a flavor explosion that will have you coming back for more. There’s a reason why Los Cholos consistently wins taco awards, and after tasting their food, it’s easy to understand why. Their arrachera meat is also amazing—so tender and flavorful, you can tell it’s been expertly prepared. Every taco is crafted with care, and you can taste the quality in every bite. The freshness of the ingredients and the seasoning are second to none, which makes for an unforgettable taco experience.

That being said, I wouldn’t recommend their asada or pastor meat. While the ribeye and arrachera shine, the asada and pastor just didn’t stand out in the same way. They’re decent, but if you’re going to Los Cholos, I’d suggest sticking to their standout meats like the ribeye and arrachera for the best experience.

Now, the downside—everyone knows how great this place is, so it can often be packed. That said, the Fullerton location is usually a little “less busy” than the original location on State College, which makes it a more relaxed spot to visit if you’re trying to avoid long lines. The service is usually quick and spot-on, which helps you get your tacos faster and still enjoy a fantastic experience.

Overall, if you’re in the area and craving some of the best tacos around, Los Cholos Taqueria is an absolute must-visit. You won’t find better tacos anywhere else. The food, the service, and the flavors all come together to make this one of the best taco spots in town.

Verdict: SOLID...