Tacos Gavilan — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I had been hearing from various friends that Tacos El Galivan had some really good tacos. So when I found myself in a taco mood the other night, I decided to give them a try. They have a chicken as part of their logo so my first impression upon entering was that this was going to be an El Pollo Loco knockoff. I guess in a few ways it could be compared to El Pollo Loco. They do offer chicken burritos and tacos as well as some very well stuffed quesadilla options. They also have a fresh salsa bar like El Pollo Loco (more about that in a moment). The similarities pretty much end there though. While El Pollo Loco does offer a few beef or pork dishes (depending on location), their main focus is the chicken. Tacos El Galivan has a much more well rounded menu with plenty of chicken, beef or pork dishes to choose from. Since my friends have been raving about their tacos, I tried the beef tacos el carbon. While they were quite good and much better than any other taco within the local area, I am not sure they were "lose my mind over them" good like many of my friends have been doing. The meat was properly cooked and spiced properly and they tasted fine. But they needed a little something more. This is where that salsa bar I mentioned earlier comes into play. Their salsa bar is amazing! It is the one thing that elevates their tacos (and probably all their food) above the norm set by places such as El Pollo Loco. So many different and freshly made salsas. From mild to wild hot, there are so many different salsas to choose from. This is where you turn your pretty good tacos into something that excites both your mouth and stomach. There is a downside to having such a wonderful salsa bar though. If you don't know what is what or which salsa goes best with your protein of choice, you can end up with tacos that don't quite rise to the occasion. Learn from the errors of your ways though and through trial and error, you can eventually end up with some damn good tacos. I do have a regret though. I should not have listened to my friends. After sitting down to eat my tacos I took notice of what other people around me were eating. QUESADILLAS! Quesadillas stuffed with lots of cheese and meat. Quesadillas that were whispering to me, "Why do you listen to your friends? Haven't you learned your lesson by now?" I plan on having a more lengthy conversation with these quesadillas on...

Passing by on street nearing downtown L.A. two locations, big inviting building with a comical chicken logo, a local chain??? The place looked clean fresh maybe newish amidst a not-so- clean or fresh or inviting urban neighborhood. I just felt like a little adventure, so I pulled in and found the parking lot full but one happy space for me. I went in to use the restroom, but the menu and wide open cheerful red-accented modern plexiglass screamed buen comida, eat something. And all the Hispanic clientele cannot be wrong. I got a super burrito. 5/5...carnitas 4/5 (saltiness is subjective, but i thought the carnitas too salty, my mom who shared this huge bad boy with me thought it was perfecto). She took a bit and said, " mmmmmm, is good!!) You get your choice of protein for anything you order -- they have sopes!! And the quesadillas look huge and impressive as other people were dining in and I snuck a peek at their dine-in trays...omg the soft street tacos looks good....gosh I wanted to try it all....they also had mulitas, tortas, and even a Cuban sandwich. I dont even know what a mulita is, but i wanted to try it. About my burrito, I wondered if I wanted to add a scoop of al pastor if I could have done it....I should have asked. Also the burrito was well built and held its shape great. I got it home and at it an hour later, still warm! Not soggy!@ Everyone there was friendly from the owner manning the order desk to the guys assembling your food...to the lady bagging takeout orders. She read my mind as I stood waiting nearby for my takeout, bec without me having to ask, she gave me a plastic bag for the handful of condiments. She's a mind reader!! Great service. Also great attention to hygiene as the salsa bar has everything prepackaged and ready to go. Also there was a traditional salsa bar. Very clean and sanitary. While I was there a guy came to wipe the counter with a clean towel even though it wasn't sloppy or dirty, very impressive. There's so Taco Gavilan where I live, the owner told me they are a chain of 15, maybe the closest is one in Huntington Park. I hope they establish in the SGV someday soon. Because my mom loved her burrito. Thanks for the fun foodie adventure while passing thru an unfamiliar part of town, I wish I had my cell phone with me so I could take pics of your well designed open large friendy colorful dining...

Driving through the bustling downtown LA area under the scorching sun, a craving for some fiery Mexican cuisine suddenly struck me. We stumbled upon a low-key local chain eatery that specializes in quick-serve Mexican cooking, offering everything from mouthwatering tacos to scrumptious mulitas, along with a salsa bar. I must say, this hidden gem exceeded my expectations.

From the moment we entered, the register welcomed us warmly and displayed incredible patience as they guided us through the menu. As someone who isn't well-versed in Mexican cuisine, their thorough explanations and recommendations were greatly appreciated. Their willingness to ensure that every customer feels comfortable and informed added an extra touch of hospitality to our visit.

The restaurant itself was immaculate, with a steady flow of customers and a glimpse of the kitchen where fresh food was being prepared behind the counter. We opted for the taco combo, which allowed us to savor three tantalizing tacos with different meat fillings alongside a serving of steamed rice and flavorful bean paste (with a splash of cheese on top). The presentation of the food was exceptional and convenient. I particularly enjoyed the individually packed condiments and the generous serving of onions and cilantro, allowing us to customize each bite to our liking on the go.

Another aspect that truly stood out was the reasonable price of the meal. For this combo (please see the attached pictures), it cost us less than $10 in total.

Overall, our experience here was short (less than 15 mins) but nothing short of delightful. The combination of friendly and patient staff, spotless surroundings, and delectable food made for an exceptional dining experience. Whether you're craving a quick bite or a full Mexican feast, this low-key local chain eatery is definitely...