Habanero Mexican Grill — Restaurant in Virginia

I am constantly in search of better tacos. This city has a few pretty good ones and I'll admit I have not tried them all. But I'm hear to tell you that the tacos at this place are the best of the best for the Richmond area. Stuck in a tiny little store front in a strip mall just down Quioccasin from Regency Square, it's kind of easy to miss, but worth the effort to find. I'm a big fan of Carnitas and this place does it perfectly. Cooked just right, with that little bit of crunchiness and that satisfying taste and texture, and perfectly accompanied with their excellent homemade guacamole. Three of these bad boys, with guac, will still get you change back from your $10 bill. Best-kept secrets don't tend to stay secret long, but it would be a disservice to taco lovers to keep this hidden. Enjoy, taco amigas y amigos!

(Originally posted to Yelp 05-23-2014) :

What Richie W said below, changing LA to Orange County and 9 to 30.

These are the real deal tacos.

Carnitas are so great I can't get past them and order every time. 3 for 7 bucks plus a couple bucks for guacamole and you got yourself a stew goin on.

When I first visited a couple years back it was just a tiny room barely able to hold a table or two, but they have added a large, covered patio area with lots of seating.

Truly a hole in the wall, but worth the effort.

My smug California friends, whom I love but poke with a cross-posting FB finger, say RVA is too far north to get good tacos. They are sometimes wrong about other things, too. You just have to know...

I tried Habanero tacos after passing this place quite a few times. Overall, a decent experience. I requested two orders of tacos, barbacoa and steak with rice and beans. Pros: The place looks clean and the food came out pretty quickly. The tacos were tasty and fresh.

Cons: The language barrier is a huge issue. I need to brush up on my Spanish anyway but trying to order WITHOUT a menu for a first time customer resulted in paying $30 for 2 orders with two tacos. If this is normal, this is egregiously overpriced. It took longer to order than it did for my food to be prepared. I asked how many tacos come in an order and the cashier told me three, held up one finger and finally said two. Huh? I’m no mathematician but basic math isn’t hard. I also left a huge tip and they still shook the tip jar, peered at me as all three of them stared from behind the counter and had a full conversation in Spanish while making my order. Quite creepy.

Since the tacos were fresh, I’ll give them another try but I really hope they get some menus printed! Make 2 menus, laminate them and tape them to the counter. Even if they don’t have prices listed, which I don’t recommend, it gives patrons the options they may be...

Habanero Mexican Grill has been my go-to spot for authentic Mexican food for several years now, and it consistently delivers when it comes to bold, flavorful dishes. The food here is absolutely delicious, with rich, vibrant flavors that make each meal feel like a true taste of Mexico. Whether it’s their tacos, burritos, or one of their specialty plates, you can always expect a meal that’s bursting with authentic taste. The fresh ingredients and traditional recipes have always been a huge draw for me.

However, over time, I’ve noticed a few changes that have slightly impacted my overall experience. One issue is that there can sometimes be a language barrier when placing orders, as not all of the staff are fluent in English. This has led to a few mix-ups with my order on occasion. Additionally, I’ve observed a subtle decline in the quality of the food lately. While it’s still good, it’s not quite at the same exceptional level it once was.

Despite these minor issues, I continue to frequent Habanero Mexican Grill because the food remains some of the best Mexican in town. I hope they address these concerns so that they can restore the consistently high quality that originally...