Tacos El Viejon — Restaurant in Morro Bay

Update 2022. I stopped going to Tacos El Viejon after I was given the opposite of what I ordered for a third time. I asked for beans no rice in my burrito and I got what was basically an all rice burrito. Although I always ordered the same thing, the price seemed to vary randomly, one time I was overcharged $7 although they always corrected the price discrepancy when I pointed it out.

I am sure they don't do it deliberately, the real issue is; this place is very authentic, if you speak Spanish you will be fine, otherwise I'd recommend sticking with what is on the menu and pointing.

Original review. I figured this was just going to be "just another Mexican restaurant" when Tacos El Viejon took over the building. With five others to choose from in the immediate vicinity, I wondered "do we really need yet another Mexican place"? I didn't actually eat there for moths after it opened, but when I did I was blown away by the food and the friendliness of the owners. Now I am totally hooked on the food there. It's prepared with pride by the owner while his wife manages the front of house. You can tell their differentiator is the authenticity, quality and freshness. If your in the mood for a taco, look no further. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, the food in a category of its own, perfectly seasoned with what must surely be a secret blend of herbs and spices. I confess there was a day recently when I had to go back for another round of their...

El Viejon describes their food perfectly; we have been here twice. The first time l, the breakfast burrito was terrible to my husband who never complains about his food. We forgot about this experience and went back. The salsa bar was clearly from at least the day before and the red sauce was rancid. Unfortunately, they were still cooking with it. I hesitantly returned the dish I switched my father in law for and the guy couldn’t understand what “bad” meant until I directed him to the salsa bar to tell him to taste the salsa. He tasted it and shuddered. I then just ordered plain carne asada tacos. There was no flavoring on the beef and here is the most important thing: it was smelly, and clearly past its due date. Several people came in to eat after us and I want to emphasize this point: The man never emptied the salsa from the bar. My husband’s breakfast burrito was again terrible, the beans were bad, along with everything is; he ate it without complaint. My father in law had to initially switch me plates because the scramble I ordered was supposed to have no onions and there was so much tomato, onion and jalapeño you could barely see the egg. It was spicy even for my Mexican FIL. I don’t know how they stay open, but they clearly do not care what they feed people and if the department of health came for a visit, they would shutter them immediately. It was a Saturday morning, I can’t imagine what their food tastes like on...

Second and last visit. How this place is still even in business is one of the great mysteries of Morro Bay. Ended up there on a Saturday afternoon because Cayucos gas station was closed. Nobody in El Viejon, two workers eating lunch at a table. The old man got up to take my order with a huge mouth full of food. 2 wet veggie burritos, 3 asada tacos. To go. 38 bucks. But when I got home, the burritos were not made wet (and were like 14 bucks ea). The tacos were super bland and lifeless. Asada had no taste. The salsa bar is the only saving grace. Seriously skip this place it’s expensive and bland and they may screw up your order. Hit Tacos de Mexico in Morro or the gas station in Cayucos, hard pass...