Cariño — Restaurant in Sacramento

I went to Carino in the late morning for some tacos. I immediately noticed how clean and bright the place is! The decor is adorable and the server, Irma, was incredibly friendly and kind.

I ordered a giant mug of horchata. It was cold and tasty and not gritty like some horchata can be.

I ordered 4 tacos- the quesabirria, the crispy taco with shredded beef, two street tacos (asada and carnitas), and a side of rice. I’m a hungry girl and I needed to try everything.

After I ordered, Irma brought me chips and salsa that were totally delicious! My food was then brought out all on one plate and the presentation was fabulous.

Their produce was incredibly fresh - the onions and cilantro were crisp and tasty and the single lime wedge had enough juice to cover my whole meal - I REALLY appreciate a high-producing lime wedge. Their onions were chopped so finely but still crisp. I can tell they care a lot about quality ingredients and freshness. She brought me a side of salsa verde which was also great.

The quesabirria was fantastic. It was a savory, well-rounded flavor. It wasn’t overly cheesy, but still- the cheese pulls on this thing were something to behold.

The crispy taco was also very good. Lots of meat and cheese, as well as lettuce and cabbage. I don’t love cabbage on tacos typically, but that’s a personal preference and didn’t take away from the meal at all. I ate every bite.

The street tacos were great! They are small, thick, and lightly charred but still maintain a softness to them. I was not worried about out my taco falling apart once. Both the carnitas and asada were very lightly seasoned compared to a lot of taco places, but they were not bland. The lighter seasoning let me really taste the flavor of the meat itself, which I could tell was high quality and fresh- there were no yucky bits. Paired with the onions, cilantro , lime, and salsa they really were a great combination of flavors without one ingredient overpowering the others.

At the end of the meal Irma thanked me earnestly for coming in and talked with me about her kids and husband- I can tell she is a great mom and I sincerely hope this restaurant...

Cariño is the neighborhood gem you didn’t know you needed.

Located in downtown, this super cute, women-owned Mexican spot (shoutout to the sisters running the show 💅) is dishing out Mexico City street food realness and Mexican-food staples at prices that won’t murder your bank account. I’m still reeling that my friend and I lunched for under $30 with extra chips and salsa. Like, is this 2025 or 2005?

The food? Mostly solid with a few highlights and some room for glow-ups.

The Huarache slapped. And I say that as a certified nopales hater. Normally they're giving “overcooked green bean with an identity crisis,” but Cariño’s version? Flavorful, hearty, and only $8. YASS.

Now the Crispy Taco? Cute on the outside—like, crunchy shell perfection—but the potato filling could’ve used more oomph.

BUT—don’t sleep on the fresh salsa. Yes, it can costs a little extra (read the fine print), but yes, you’ll want to put it on everything. I was basically drinking it by the end.

The vibe? Neighborhood comfort with downtown flavor. I’m already plotting my return to taste-test the rest of the menu like it’s my civic duty.

How I break down my ⭐️ reviews: 1 - Not if it was the last thing on DoorDash. 🗑️ 2 - Meh. Maybe if I’m close, and high. 😬 3 - Mid. Not texting the group chat about it. 🤷‍♀️ 4 - Hella solid. Planning my next visit. 😋 5 - Shut up! Take my money....

Got take out so I can’t say anything about service or atmosphere. I ordered over the phone and specifically asked for sour cream and the young lady told me that sour cream doesn’t come with the shrimp burrito I ordered and I said I knew that and that’s why I asked for a side. I assumed that much of a discussion about sour cream would remind them to put it with my order but no, I didn’t get it. My coworkers both ordered tacos and they were highly disappointed. They said the meat was dry and they got more lettuce than anything. The tacos hardly had any meat, I hate that! These restaurants need to do better and...