Taco Palenque Harlingen — Restaurant in Harlingen

So these reviews have been pretty unfair. Taco Palenque isn't cheap...never was. If the price is too steep for you, then dont order, but I guess that's what you get for opening in a Wal-Mart parking lot. That being said, as of now, this location needs some work on food quality. I lived in Laredo for 10 years and regularly enjoyed going to the original location and later, the new one that opened on McPhereson there. These and Whataburger were THE place to be after 2AM, if you know what I mean. Since moving to Harlingen, I hit the TP in Weslaco fairly often as well. So happy to have one here, BUT if I'm paying gor Taco Palenque prices, I want that level of quality that I have expected. I went in a few days ago. Ordered 4 Piratas. Food was ready quickly, but NOTE there were no chips available inside. Just an empty spot where the heat lamps were. Waited a few minutes. None appeared. In my experience, they bring the fresh chips to replace the container that is nearly empty. Not take the container to the back and forget about it. Took my food home. Got there and began to eat and knew instantly something was off. Opened up the pirata to find almost no cheese. Like a few random pieces that looked like they had incidentally fallen in, not intentionally added cheese. The cheese is kind of integral to the Pirata and at 5 dollars a piece I dont think there is any reason to be stingy with it. Thought maybe it was a fluke. Checked all 4 and they were all the same way. More staff training is definitely needed here. The location looks nice, the service was prompt, and the tortillas, beans and fajita tasted fine, but with the missing chips, and almost non existant amount of cheese on my piratas I cant give the 5 star rating I so desperately want to give this place. Every other Taco Palenque I've been to is easily a 5/5. Hopefully it's...

This was probably one of the worse food experiences I've had. Speaking food strictly here because the service was very good. We ordered simple breakfast tacos.

Starting with the Becon, egg and cheese. You would think this would come out fresh. It was not. It looked like someone cut a chunk of out and old egg casserole and stuck it between the tortilla. The bacon is the same quality as Jack in the Box. Awful taste almost chemical. The cheese was the same cheese that they use in most fast food chains where you question if it is in fact cheese or wood pulp dyed orange saturated in hydronated oils.

The chicharrons taco was awful. Took one bite and had to put it down. It tasted like very old pork. Almost sewer like.

The Fajita was run of the mill prepackaged tasting fajitas. Nothing special but was tolerable.

The bean and chorizo was probably the best thing we had even though you couldn't taste the chorizo it was more like just eating beans on a tortilla.

Now speaking about the tortilla we didn't eat the flour we chose corn. The corn tortilla was awful it was like eating dry gritty dough. Wasn't pleasant by any means you had to wash down every bite with a swig of water just to swallow it. Honestly I don't know why people eat here just based off our experience.

Do yourself a favor and look for a mom and pop Mexican joint or just go to...

I love this food so much that it's so disappointing getting bad service. We used to go through drive-thru but it takes a while but this is quality food so that's understandable. So I have been getting down instead since the line is usually shorter. But now for some reason the service is horrible.

One guy I assume is a manager was taking my order then all of a sudden, he just walks away to the side. Another cashier takes over and finishes my order. I'm sitting at the counter and I notice the head cook gesturing to me with that same manager who is now eating food off the line and drinking his drink. They look confused so I gesture to them as to say "do you need to ask me something? " and the cook in frustration sighs and shows me her hand to tell me to wait. I don't mind waiting for good food but she brings it and it's a large order so I check it and it's missing to items. So I go back to this "manager" and he couldn't be more bothered I explained there are 2 items missing and he appears as if I am challenging him. But I see the 2 quesadillas sitting on the counter and point to them. He doesn't move he just stays leaning on the counter yelling at the cook and she comes all the way around to give me my missing items and she apologizes reluctantly. Now my...