El Grullense E&E — Restaurant in Redwood City

Title: Delicious Tacos with a Convenient Location, but Pricey and Lacking in Customer Service

El Grullense has been my beloved dining spot for many years, and it never fails to impress with its awesome food and delightful flavors. The tacos they serve are bursting with tasty goodness and an incredible array of flavors that keep me coming back time and time again. The taste is consistently outstanding, showcasing the culinary expertise that defines this establishment.

However, it's hard to overlook the pricing issue. Over the years, the cost of their tacos has steadily risen, nearing the $4 mark when ordering Lengua tacos. While the flavors justify some premium pricing, the higher costs make it a bit challenging to enjoy these delectable treats as frequently as one might desire.

Moreover, I must acknowledge that El Grullense falls short in terms of customer service. The employees can be a bit rude, lacking the warm and welcoming demeanor that enhances the dining experience. It would greatly benefit the establishment to invest in improving their customer service, making each visit a more enjoyable and pleasant experience.

Furthermore, requesting extra condiments seems to be met with confusion or disapproval. A more accommodating approach towards fulfilling customer requests for additional toppings would enhance the overall experience and leave patrons feeling more satisfied.

Nonetheless, one of the standout advantages of El Grullense is its convenient location. Situated in an excellent area, it offers accessibility and ease for diners, making it a go-to spot for those seeking a quick and tasty meal.

In summary, El Grullense offers delicious tacos with an impressive range of flavors and a convenient location. However, the rising prices, lacking customer service, and difficulty in obtaining extra condiments detract from the overall experience. If you're willing to overlook these downsides, it's worth a visit for the...

⭐ Overall: 6.5/10 – Would stop by, but not a destination

I tried several items here and had mixed results. Here’s the breakdown:

🌮 Tacos: 🥩 Carne Asada: taco is excellent – 9/10. Super flavorful with that carnicería-style marinade (tastes like soy, Maggi, or Worcestershire + beer). Deep umami, boiled style, flattop seared, juicy. Tortillas are a win – even though they’re white corn, they have a rich yellow corn flavor, likely due to proper nixtamalization or cooking. Best part of the taco experience smoky, savory, and full of flavor. I’d come back just for this meat.

🐖 Al Pastor: 6/10 – You get pork, but that’s about it. No real depth, pineapple, or trompo flavor. Just… fine.

🍗 Chicken: 5/10 – Black pepper and Maggi powder vibes. Edible but not memorable.

🌯 Burrito: Missed the mark. The rice is overly MSG-forward from the Knor, lacking tomato or soul. No balance, not worth the price. Definitely getting burritos somewhere else.

🍚 Rice: Tastes like Knorr chicken cube water. No tomato, no cooked onion , odd mushy texture.

🫘Beans - Whole Pinto de holla, perfectly salted nothing special

🌶️ Salsas: • Green salsa – 10/10. Boiled tomatillo base with cilantro and a hint of toasted árbol chile. Bright and refreshing. The standout salsa for sure, I drank/ sipped on the to-go salsa cup, i wanted that on tastebuds when finished my meal , thats how good it was. • Red salsa – 6.5/10. Guajillo + árbol with clove in the background. Roasted, warming, but not punchy enough to elevate the proteins, overpowers the meat.

📍 Verdict: Tacos are solid, carne asada is fantastic, and the green salsa ties it all together. Everything else? Skip. Wouldn’t go out of my way, but I’d stop in for tacos and salsa if...

I recently visited Tacos El Grullense after hearing quite a bit of hype and seeing consistently high ratings across various platforms. Unfortunately, my personal experience didn’t live up to the expectations.

I ordered a taco de asada, a taco al pastor, a super burrito de carne asada con todo, and an agua de horchata. One important note for future visitors: it’s a cash-only establishment, so be sure to come prepared.

As for the food, I found the overall quality and flavor underwhelming. The tacos were fairly standard, but the meat quality—especially for the asada—was noticeably lacking, and neither taco offered anything that stood out. The burrito, which I had high hopes for, felt off—largely due to the inclusion of tomato and lettuce, which gave it more of a “wrap” vibe than a traditional, hearty burrito. The flavors were flat, and again, the meat didn’t shine.

The agua de horchata was okay—on the sweeter side for my taste, but still refreshing. The one item that did impress me was the red salsa, which was flavorful and packed a spicy punch.

All in all, I left disappointed and puzzled by the rave reviews and strong following this chain has. While everyone’s tastes differ, this visit didn’t deliver anything close to the 5-star experience I was expecting. Sadly, I don’t see...