Taqueria El Fundador — Restaurant in Phoenix

I was wowed today. I kept hearing from people how bad this place is getting but never seen it since usually I always order online but today they really showed there true new colors I been a customer for over 20 years and with there actions today they lost another customer.

I did my typical online order I have always loved there unique flavor burritos, picked it up drove allllll the way home and burritos are uneatable, just poring in grease or oil. I called back and explained they said bring the burritos back and we can exchange them. Ok perfect, I got asked on the phone what my order was and I gave her my order from there I was under the impression of me arriving my order will be ready since it’s there mistake but I arrive and have to explain my situation again but it’s still ok I give my order again and waited at this time there was 3 people waiting for there food they get there’s no problem new customers order they start getting there orders just not me the guy that drove back with there greasy burritos that not even my dog would eat it. This is after more then an hour after I called and 30 minutes after I arrived in person and I go up to the counter ask if my order is ready young lady asked the cook if my order is cooked replied what was my order at this point I lost it the save a cook came out instead of him getting my food correct and staying with a customer for more then 20 years buying your expensive skimpy burritos he decides to loose me and give my money back woowww I turned out being the bad guy here. That was my dinner list 2 hours in total and that’s what I get. You guys Definitely lost your touch getting cocky. I always recommend this place my friends and family learned about this place because of me but now I’m definitely letting everyone know how bad this place got. You didn’t just loose me as customer you lost...

Probably had one of the worst experiences I’ve had in a really long time and usually I don’t write reviews but this isn’t okay. From the moment I started ordering the Hispanic older lady was already acting super rude with me maybe she wasn’t a people person which is fine but this wasn’t that. I didn’t know if they had a certain dish and she corrected me with a certain tone and just giving me a blank stare. Even my coworker who was with me that didn’t know Spanish felt the awkwardness. We finished paying and I was kind of confused of what happened. Two men ordered after me and then a woman and she was smiling and being nice to them. I know she was being super prejudice against me being I’m a female who dresses in masculine clothes had half my hair shaved and wearing a hat. I haven’t experienced that in such a long time so have delt with this in 2024 in this day and age is crazy to me. When another older lady handed us our order she repeated the order back to told me it came with a piña (pineapple) drink I said okay and she just starred at me and said it again to me I’m just standing there waiting for the drink and just said okay again? Please don’t come here if you’re dressed a certain way because you would get treated rudely and judged by the older Hispanic female crowd with certain beliefs. Never had an issue with the place or the food till now. I’m not a confrontational person but that was so messed up and want people to know about this so take it...

Every now and then we make the drive out to Taqueria El Fundador. There are less expensive + comparable taquerias in Phoenix but the piña preparada and birria quesadillas are typically enough to go out of the way.

We were super excited to try the birria flautas on our last visit. The flautas were good despite our expectation for a side of the caldo to dip them in. Also after a year in another country, we needed to fulfill a craving for authentic tacos. The Al pastor tacos satisfied the craving.

That said, the rating would be 5 stars but we were disappointed that we weren’t offered any salsas for our order OR alerted they’d “cost extra.” When we requested some salsas + encurtidos to go with the food while dining in, they tried to charge extra after we had already paid + tipped. In the past they have been complementary so this was a surprise.

Our order total was about $45 including the $5 tip we left. Maybe they are charging for salsa + encurtidos now but it would have been nice to be offered & know that before we paid for the order. Maybe the tip money would have been better spent.

I would definitely recommend trying El Fundador but just keep in mind it is a bit expensive & if you want salsa you will need to request it + pay for...