Taqueria La Espuela — Restaurant in Mountain View

Bottom line -- I rate 3+ stars and mildly recommended this resturant.

Many nights after work I go to a taqueria in the city where I make my last delivery. I've been to so many I feel like a taco eating expert hahaha. This was my 2nd time at LA Espuela in Mountain View, CA around 9pm. The first time the place was packed with dinners. This time I was the only patron. There was an hour before close, I was the only order/customer but they got my simple order of 2 grilled chicken tacos and 1 steak taco wrong. Initially brought me 1 chix and 1 steak taco. I reminded them I had paid for an additional chix taco and they soon delivered a 2nd steak taco (not what I had ordered but I didn't say anything). They were very polite and I felt welcome but have to ding their service rating. Both the chix and steak tacos had plenty of meat and we're seasoned well. The chix taco was really good...almost slammin' (but not quite). The steak tacos had a gamey wild meat kind of taste. Won't recommend or order it again. I still have sticker shock of the price of tacos -- these 3 tacos plus 2 cans of Dr. Pepper cost $21.58. Wasn't that long ago when this would have been...

Filling, tasty food.

Food: crunchy taco - seemed like it was deep fried in-house at some point, decent crunch and taste; first filled with cheese, then meat, and lettuce; then covered in more lettuce, some sour cream, and a slice tomato; pretty difficult to eat since it was overflowing super? taco - served atop 2 soft tortillas, it was piled high - I ate half the piling on top, then used knife and fork to eat the rest, I couldn't actually eat it like a taco meat: pollo asado carne asada

Prices are not bad - It was about $40 for a meal with drinks for 3 people.

Drink: horchata - very good, sweet and cinnamony They have michaelade beer - spiced beer with salted rim

Service: They seat you, and serve tortilla chips with a couple of salsas. After that, they leave you alone so you can just pay when you leave.

Ambiance: the main seating has skylights which brighten up the place a lot, otherwise the entry way is a bit...

I'm giving this place 4 stars for 2 reasons

1. This is the only taqueria in downtown mountain view that is what you'd expect from a taqueria. Good for takeout or sitting around with friends. Tacos, burritos, your choice of meats and extras.

2. In highschool, this was my very favorite restaurant. My family went twice a week and I went with my friends 3 times a week.

Unfortunately, it's not as good as it was. The prices have doubled. I remember when the super burrito was about $6 and the mini was $2. The portions have shrunk. I suspect rising rent costs to be the culprit. The restaurant I loved is still here but it just... leaves a little to be desired. You can get better/cheaper Mexican food in CA but for the immediate area, this place is...