El Pelon Taqueria

good, authentic Mexican food. Fast service.

There are not many notable authentic Mexican restaurants in Boston. With that said, El Pelon might be more like a 3 star review if it were in any urban area with greater competition. The food is good, the place is clean. We ordered from the Tacos De La Casa part of the menu. I had fish, my husband had steak tacos. I have had better fish tacos, but the asada was very tender with a tasty sauce.
If I see tamales on a menu, I have to try one. It is very telling of the skills possessed by the cook. Unfortunately, this tamale should really be considered a Mexican matza ball. There was no masa surrounding a filling of some sort. It was just a lump of masa with poblano peppers speckled through the mix and some corn. It was sizable, but how hard is it to lump masa in a corn husk? I make tamales. Yes, they are labor intensive. But it’s a side dish that balances out a menu because there are other dishes with quick prep.
The only other thing that put me off was that I asked for cilantro on the side. Cilantro is a polarizing herb. People love it or hate it. I love it and most dishes don’t have enough of it for me. So I ask for (and am willing to pay for it) extra cilantro when I order Mexican food. The woman said no. My tacos had no cilantro, but the guacamole on my husband’s taco did. So that would have been nice.
I will go back to try a burrito. Many patrons ordered that. But I would not order again what I ordered today.
Unfortunately, for Boston, this is as good as it gets for a taco stand. But it is clean and they rock the carne asada. Oh, and if you dine in, you will see the three headless mariachi figurines on the wall that cracked me up. I really hope they don’t get rid of them. It’s part of the scenery and I got a giggle out of it.

As a former BC student, El Pelon’s been an absolute God-​send. Their menu items are a great representative of Mexican food and will always leave you full at the end of your meal. Their prices have gone up a bit throughout the years, but that never deterred me as a regular customer. Unfortunately, their seating space is badly lacking, ESPECIALLY during the lunch and dinner rushes so don’t count on getting an immediate seat.
My regular meal there was either a pescado (fish) or steak burrito, always with their green, red habanero, and crema sauces on the side. These sauces make the meal for me; it’s never the same without them. I also ask for a side of lime wedges to squeeze onto each bite. I’ve been so addicted to these two burritos that I rarely tried much else from the menu. However, their caramelos tacos are also well worth the money. If you happen to go on a Saturday during the late morning/​early lunch, their breakfast plate is also a steal for just $ 4. I believe it’s an extra dollar if you want to add a portion of meat to it.

I got the El Guapo «steak and plantain» yesterday at lunch, Never in my life had a burrito this bad.
I opened it up to see whats in it, literally 3 morsels of fat and a piece of plantain, basically
i threw it in the garbage and left. waste of 9.45
went next door for pizza. Their clients are college kids that basically dont know or dont care as long
as it fills them up. There was one cook poor guy was overwhelmed and just throwing food together to catch up. Didnt want to complain but avoid this
at all costs.

I want to preface this by saying I grew up with amazing Hispanic food at every corner, so I’m a bit picky when it comes to my burritos, platanos and salsas. That being said, El Pelon is a good spot to grab some quick grub at a decent price with a-​ok flavors.
The burrito is absolutely enormous, loaded with whatever you can think of, including plantains! Such a rare find in Boston, I had to order a side of them too. They came with a fire-​roasted salsa, which was interesting, and were only lightly fried, making for a slightly starchy texture (which is not typical — usually they’re either soft as candied yams or hard like banana chips). Not a whole lot of flavor there, but hey, a plantain prepared mediocre is better than no plantain at all? Right? I digress.
The salsa was a very fresh style, more a pico than anything else. Their hot sauce is crema based and extra spicy, so a dab will do ya. Make sure to use your Unilocal app to check in and you can get free chips and salsa!

Added star for the fact that you keep dropping $$ into my LevelUp account so I have no excuse NOT to come here for delicious pescado burritos.
I heart you always.

Two words: El Guapo. This thing is a beast of a burrito. Sub Refried beans + add guac and holy moly, you’re in for a treat

There is just no need for any other Mexican restaurant. The fried fish is unbelievable. I just had a burrito with fish and guacamole and it was 1) Amazing 2) Freshly made to order 3) Totally reasonably priced 4) Humongous.
This place is just simply the best Mexican I’ve had in the area. It was busy when we were there (noon-12:45), but that is so be expected.
I can’t speak highly enough about the fish. Can’t wait to go back again.

An excellent Mexican restaurant by Boston College. Very good price and very good food. The tacos are excellent, with a healthy portion of flavorful meat, purple cabbage and cucumbers. Definitely asked for their hot sauce, they add a great kick to your food. Staffs are friendly and helpful. Horchata is pretty good but can be better.
Overall, it is a good place for inexpensive and good Mexican food.

First of all, i gotta say going out of my way to review this place must mean something. I am currently here for work (without forgetting to mention I am Mexican that actually grew up in Mexico and currently live in San Antonio) and started craving Mexican food. After some research decided to try El Pelon and all I can say is-​give me more Caramelos please! And a steak quesadilla, lots of guac, green hot sauce and red one, chips! Fresh chips (im getting spoiled) plantains, fish tacos!.. yes that is right! I did not only find a solution to my mexican food cravings? But an awesome one!!! Damn. I wish they had a location in San Antonio, yes it is this good! Everything is fresh, the tortillas remind me of when my mom used to go buy them fresh every morning, and to see they actually make their chips is WOW! You dont see that anymore…
On top of it all-​their service is on point! Always fast, the right order, and service is super friendly!
Luckily, I found out the also do Catering, and from what I hear is the same service! Cannot wait to try it for my next meeting! Im sure everybody will go nuts about it…

I have never used Unilocal and never will again, but I am absolutely COMPELLED to do so because no place has ever deserved a bad Unilocal review as much as this place.
El Pelon Taqueria is the worst eating establishment I’ve ever been to. Hand down the worst service I have ever, ever, ever, ever experienced. The amount of times where they have messed up something in my order is actually countless (realistically, more than 15). Ordering online won’t make it any better either. If you ordered 5 times online at El Pelon, they would get your order 100% correct perhaps once.
On top of that, the wait time required for the most basic of burritos and quesadillas will exceed 20 minutes on a daily basis, even when El Pelon is NOT THAT BUSY. I’ve gone in where there is pretty much no one in sight, order a cheese quesadilla, and hope and pray that in a reasonable 5 minutes I’ll be eating. But no, El Pelon never fails to amaze me with how long they take to make food. I’m not exaggerating. It’s horrible.
On top of that, their management is ridiculously rude and mean. Once I went in and ordered a steak burrito, to which they responded, «Sorry we don’t have that right now.» I was shocked but I tried to recuperate with a quesadilla, chips, and guac. WRONG! NO CHIPS AND GUAC EITHER! As I began to scan the menu again, I was hit with a nasty, «There a lot of people in line sir. You need to order.» Are you kidding me? Sorry you ran out of steak burrito ingredients and chips and guac (How is that possible? As a taqueria, you have one job) and I had to see what else to get.
Anyway, that is all I have for now. I’ve let the horrible service go for a few years because my friends like to get their burritos, but I had to say something because I just had another horrible experience (all the burritos my friends ordered just now were completely mislabeled, I’m not sure how you do that… you literally just made the burrito, how do you label it as something completely different??). El Pelon is a sad excuse for a restaurant because of how tragically comical their employees are. I hate going there. If a steak burrito, chips, and guac worked there, the efficiency and quality of the food would probably be better.
The saddest part is that the food isn’t bad. Sadly, it’s not worth eating a dope burrito if you’re going to be so upset with the process of acquiring aforementioned burrito.
Don’t go here.

I live within walking distance of El Pelon so it has become a go to spot for me a few times a week. As a non student it can sometimes be pretty unbearable to fight the hoards of BC students but it’s well worth it for the food!
My standby’s are the chicken enchilada, steak plato, and el guapo burrito. The guac and salsa here are also great although the portions are a bit on the small side. I seriously crave El Pelon at least once a week and have ventured out in every weather condition possible to get my fix. I used to be a true believer in Anna’s and Chipotle but El Pelon has shown me the light and I’m never turning back!
I personally wouldn’t choose to dine in given how close I live and how busy this place can get so for me it’s more of a take out option but there are always people sitting eating so you can if you want to. Overall El Pelon is amazing and I have recommended to so many people now who have also loved it!

This may cause some controversy — but I think I like the food here better than Anna’s Taqueria *gasp*.
I finally got to try the legendary El Pelon Taqueria because my co-​worker convinced me to go watch a BU vs BC hockey game (which anyone who knows me will know is not my typical scene AT ALL). We were starving after work that day and instead of paying for shitty, overpriced stadium food, we opted instead to get some dank Mexican.
I totally see why this place is such a cult favorite. They have a HUGE menu of tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, plates, sides and they have some pretty unique options for fillings and customizations along with classic standards — from braised pork to butternut squash to VEGAN CHEESE? Probably won’t be trying that one.
I got the 2 Pollos Tacos with extra guacamole. The flavors were unbelievable — the chicken meat was soooo juicy and soft, and the tartness from the pickled onions combined with the freshness of the salsa and limed onion were out of this world. They were suuuper generous with the guacamole too.
Probably the best Mexican food I’ve ever had in Boston.
So good in fact that I had to go back and get an extra burrito — for drunk munchies afterwards ;). Many hours and several gin and tonics later, the flavors were just as good at 2 AM — if not better.
I may not have become a hockey fan that night but I DEFINITELY became a fan of El Pelon.

Huge fan of El Pelon. I used to come here so often since I worked right near this location. I personally think that if you live in Boston… El Pelon might have the best burritos in Boston! I feel like for the amount you pay, you just get SO much in a burrito. and it’s just super delicious. Don’t kill me, but I feel like El Pelon has more flavor than Anna’s or other burrito places. Heck, I hate cilantro and I’ll eat El Pelon’s pico de gallo in the burrito.
I usually get the fish burrito or the El Guapo (with refried beans — got this trick from a friend). It’s oo ooo GOOD.
Definitely get their burrito card — buy 10 get 1 free… it’s totally possible to get this since you will literally come back again… and again. and again.
One thing is… I haven’t had it in a year and I stopped by the other day and the prices went up by $ 1! I was sad, but… El Pelon deserves it for being so good. Especially on a busy Saturday night, the place was a mad house. Had to wait awhile, but it is so worth the wait! Staff are friendly… and if you check in on Unilocal… you get FREE CHIPS AND SALSA!!!

BEWARE! Their food is addictive!!!
El Pelón is a little gem, and they’ll get you hooked at your first visit.
It’s flavorful, real, and delicious.
So, here is my question for you, dear reader: Why are you still reading this review? Go there now! Your taste buds will thank you.
Why the five star? I normally don’t give five stars!
Well, the food is above a 4, and then when you factor in the price, El Pelon gets a five star rating.
You could most likely find better or fancier tasting Mex food, but most likely not a that price.
Lastly, every time I have been there, I have been served with a smile, even when the shop was packed to the rim.

Affordable, fast, and delicious. The carnitas enchiladas were perfectly flavorful. Looking forward to coming back to try the burritos which looked huge!

Fast, simple, hugely satisfying, and crazy delicious mexican food. What more could you want? I got the El Guapo burrito with guac – the combination of the juicy beef, starchy plantains, and fiery sauce just made my night.

This place satisfies my cravings for good Mexican food and then some! Anna’s is good too, but El Pelon just takes things to new heights… first off, their burritos are ginormous and you can’t begin to fathom how all that food will fit in your stomach, but thankfully, it all does! Secondly, There is a good ratio of meat (I personally prefer steak or carnitas)-sour cream-​lettuce-​salsa-​beans-​cheese-​and etc in the burritos and every bite was like of medley in your mouth. Thirdly, their food is just straight up delicious.
So if you’re ever in the mood for good burrito then skip Boloco and get some El Pelon.

I come to this place for one thing and one thing only. FISH TACOS. You won’t be able to find fish tacos anywhere in Boston that taste as good as the ones here. What makes the fish tacos so amazing here is the pickled cabbages. They are so flavorful and juicy and really well complements the fish.
Make sure to ask for the green hot sauce on the side. Its really hot but if you put just enough, it makes the tacos even better. Also, make sure to check in on Unilocal as well and you will get free chips and salsa! I’m not sure how long this deal will last so make sure to use it asap!!!

We went there again yesterday within a week of last time and I must say my. hot sauce complain from previous review was taken well care of this time. I asked for their hot sauces they have and they gave me couple of good ones
Fire roasted house salsa is crazy spicy and realy good along with their green sauce. This tine we ordered two veggie and two chicken tacos which filled to the over max caoacity… ate firj first and then with hand. Lots of food… I never get full w two taco but this was overstuffed. Love it
We tried guacamole this around too… fresh and green and home made but very
lemon or salt at all. When I was talking to my group of 3 about the table next to us overheard it and chipped in saying it needed a little lime and salt too. Glad I wasnt the only one who thought that.
Overall very pleased… loved it…