Taqueria Los Pericos — Restaurant in San Leandro

Unfortunately I have to give them a low score SOLEY based on their menudo. I've been taking my family to Los Pericos since 2009. 2 years ago we all went for Sunday breakfast. Most of us ordered menudo. I threw my add ins on and stirred it up. As I watched the beautiful crimson red caldo swirl with onions, chile quebrado and oregano I thought, el oregano tiene muchas ramitas today. 3 big spoonfuls later I realized IT WAS NOT RAMITAS DE OREGANO. It was hair, HAIR! All the bowls had hair. The guy who came to help was very embarrassed and apologized repeatedly. Let me say, la raza que trabaja aquí es muy muy linda. We didn't go back for 2 years because of this but I decided to go today because my mom is out of town (she would not have it!). We ordered the menudo. It was blander than what I remembered, but good. .. until I started to scrape the bottom of the bowl with my spoon. I knew immediately that it was "tierrita". DIRT. This time I didn't complain. I just decided that I need to find another menudo spot. Everything else here is amazing but my mom swears that if they don't clean the menudo they probably don't clean...

Decent taqueria option a few blocks from Old Town San Leandro in Pelton Plaza. Ordering line and order pickup were both quick, and parking is easy with the abundant plaza parking outside. Stand-out meat selections in our two-of-every-kind order were the Buche, Carnitas, Pollo Asado, and a very good Carne Asada.

Quesadilla was a bit wet even with a less saucy meat option (Pollo Asado in this case), and ended up leaking messily from the combination of wet lettuce, sour cream, and guacamole. Probably better to stick to a standard

Speaking of guacamole, the house version here is an extra smooth blend that's a little bland, definite a skip for us next time at ten bucks a pop. Salsa variations are served up in a three stack of orange sauce, avocado base, and a sweeter tomatillo in the standard 2 oz cups...

Have been there one other time because the one down the street was closed. The ceviche tasted like chemicals they use to clean the restaurant. Hubby went today because again the other Pericos was closed so we figured would give this location another chance. Ordered to go a Large Coctel de Camaron, it was 18.00 and was the small container. Was already at home with food and decided not to bother with going back to ask. Started to eat and the juice was lacking in flavor but still continued eating. The 5 the bite in and got the same taste of cleaning supplies. Not sure how they handle their food but there should be no taste of cleaning supplies in the food. Makes me wonder how/ where they are washing the vegetables and how it is the cleaning supply taste is getting in there. So won't be going to this...