Taqueria El Zamorano

Potato Tacos are sooooo GOOD !!! Great hole in the wall place ! Awesome awesome food !!

I went here based on my buddy had heard good things, and it passed the Unilocal check. And the food was good. I got the 2 taco combo plate with fried fish and shrimp tacos, and we shared a nachos. Both were very good.
You have to try the cucumber drink. You’ll like it.
Highly recommend.

Ordered menudo, taco with everything and corn quesadilla, received a taco with nothing, a flour quesadilla, and menudo with no hominy. When I got my taco found out they use chipotle in their salsa, gross. Drove quite a ways to come check this place out, disappointed. 3 stars for the agua de pepino and handmade tortillas.

I usually feel slightly guilty tapping on any star rating below 3, but this time around I think Meh. is a perfect expression for my experience at this joint.
I judge restaurants a lot based on how many patrons of their respective cuisines are actually of that respective culture. Like… I probably won’t go into a Filipino restaurant that has ZERO Filipino people in it. Just saying. If you’re like me on that one… caveat emptor. There are ZERO Hispanic/​Latino customers in here, unless they are with other folks. That should have been my first warning.
Another Unilocaler wrote about the handmade tortillas… and I tend to agree. Yes, they are indeed hecho a mano, but… they just aren’t very tasty. Kinda bland. And if you’re anything like me, you know that a tortilla is not just a vehicle for fillings… it’s its own religious experience when done well. Here? Not so well.
So bro orders a Milanesa torta, Mom orders asada nachos, and I order three tacos: dorado (crispy shell with potato inside), al pastor, and tripas.
Torta is ok, it’s huge and stuffed with just the right amount of ingredients for a hearty $ 6.50. Comes with chips and some real spicy ass salsa.
Asada nachos are THE BOMB. Plenty of guac, sour cream, cheese, beans, and meat. The meat is slightly dried out, but who cares? We actually ran out of crispy, fresh chips, this was so tasty. Also comes with that spicy ass salsa.
My pastor taco looks suspiciously like beef instead of marinated pork, so I bring it back up to the counter.
Me: Excuse me, I ordered an al pastor taco and this doesn’t look like pastor.
Guy (peering at it): Nope, definitely not.
Me: Can I please get what I ordered?
Guy: What number were you?
Me: 55.
Guy (checking old tickets): Nope, says on here ‘asada.‘
Me: Yeah, I ordered asada nachos, but I said pastor taco and he said it back to me.
Guy (shrugging): Nope, sorry, can’t do anything.
What the actual f? Are you serious? We just dropped like $ 20 and you can’t make me one quick pastor taco? Is it going to disrupt the flow of of the freaking Zamorano universe to make a customer happy? Wow. I literally took the taco back and threw it onto the tray, ¾ uneaten.
I left this place starving, disappointed, pissed off, filled with mediocre overly-​cinnamony horchata, and just generally fazed. It’s not like they actually give a shit since this place is filled to the brim with gringos and other randoms who think this is good Mexican food.
Two stars: clean bathroom, and that spicy ass salsa is pretty good. But in the heart of Santa Ana? COME ON, PEOPLE. You can do better than this place!

I ordered a quesadilla and it came in four slices with a generous amount of guac, cheese and sauce.
It is worth visiting but the parking spots are very limited. We parked in the neighborhood nearby.

Omg how have I not tried this place sooner !!! Hands down best tacos I’ve ever had. The softest melt in your mouth hand made tortillas ever. I tried every single taco and liked every single one. I will have them cater my wedding and my children’s weddings as well. (I don’t even have kids yet)

Stopped by here at around 10pm on a Friday night. Had limited expectations since it was so late and were just scrolling through Unilocal to find a bite.
Food: We ordered a bunch of 4 tacos, 1 carne asada nachos and a 1 carne asada quesadilla. This was enough food for 3 people. Since it was only me and my buddy, we struggled to finish, eventually giving up. The food was great! The tortilla tasted fresh and home made. The texture was awesome. I thought the carnitas was so-​so, but the cabeza and pastor was really good.
Service: The register person was really nice and gave prompt service. They were prompt and courteous when we asked for napkins or extra sauce.
Parking: The parking here only fits about 10 cars. When we were there, there really wasn’t a crowd. So this wasn’t an issue. But if you were to come at peak times, for sure this would pose a problem.
I would for sure come back here again.

The reviews don’t lie. the parking lot literally has ⁴⁄₅ spots but there was actually only 1 car in the lot when I pulled in at 7:30pm last night [Wed]. Inside, the menu is streamed on tvs and there are paper menus to look at as well. When we went, there was a tv playing the NBA playoffs game [win!].
I ordered a breakfast plate [huevos con chorizo] for $ 5.99. It was a generous portion of eggs and chorizo and also came with rice and beans. The tortillas on the side were warm and delicious and I tried to eat as many as I could but couldn’t finish the last one!
My boyfriend got a burrito & taco and I didn’t try any of either but the burrito was huge and looked very filling! We also received a bag of tortilla chips and 3 packs of salsa that were delicious. He lives close to here so I’m sure we will be back soon! Hopefully we’ll be able to park in that lot again [note: the entrance and exit are the same driveway].
Note: The seating area is limited [about 4 tables, I believe] but not an issue for us since we got it to-​go :)

The make their tortillas by hand!
I had the chorizo torts which was SO BOMB. It’s not your regular store bought chorizo either, this stuff has a kick to it like no other. Even a quesadilla comes with all the trimmings and is also bomb. You can literally not go wrong here with any type of food. Enjoy:)

Location and parking is slightly inconvenient, there is only one entrance/​exit for the relatively cramped lot.
But my goodness the tacos are amazing, so amazing that I can totally overlook the limited seating arrangement. This place clears out pretty quickly anyways as people don’t seem to linger after they enjoy their food or they take their food to-​go. The menu was in Spanish, so I was a bit confused and hesitant, but the employees were so nice and gladly helped answer any questions I had.
They make their own tortillas! And they’re ridiculously delicious. Slightly thicker than the usual corn tortillas that most basic places use, Zamorano’s tortillas offer a soft, chewy yet dense blanket of goodness… Mmm~
I got two asada tacos and two al pastor tacos. Both were so tasty, but hands down the Al pastor (pork) tacos were to die for! The occasional burst of pineapple from the pieces snuck inside gave me true satisfaction when eaten with the meat.
They ladle their sauce on top of the tacos, so make sure you ask for the sauce on the side if you can’t handle the heat like me! I was unaware of this and it was quite painful. Although the deliciousness overrode it, next time I shall ask for it on the side!

Very legit. Guy rolling masa onto the tortilla press let’s you know it’s authentic.
Skip the rice and beans on your burrito. Don’t be a hero. Meat servings are generous and tasty.

Best tacos I’ve tried thus far! I’m not much of a Mexican food fan but this place is super authentic and the food is super delicious.
Upon walking in you notice that there aren’t many tables indoors; there’s some outdoor seating though, but I’ve never seen this place get too busy
Each taco is 2.50 each unless you add things like guac. Usually I just order chips as guac and use some of the guac to put it on my tacos. My favorites from here are the cabeza, tripa, and pescado tacos. Cabeza is basically head meat– this one is super moist and juicy. It gets my tortilla really soggy but that’s okay lol. Tripa is intestine I believe, and it’s one of my favorites because I love trying weird things like intestine. It’s superrrrr crispy and chewy at the same time. Pescado is your typical fish taco; its fried to perfection and I love the sauce they put on it!
They also have 3 different drinks: cucumber juice, horchata, and pineapple juice! I love the cucumber juice because it’s so refreshing and tastes healthy lol.
ALSO, they make their own nachos by frying the tortillas! Super delicious!
PROS:
~Authentic + delicious + fresh
~Make their own nachos
~All the drinks are refreshing and good
CONS:
~Limited indoor seating

Literally, hands down the best carne asada tacos in Orange County. The quality is excellent. I’ve never found any fat or junk like that in my tacos.
The horchata is amazing.
The service is good and quick.
The restaurant is small but clean. There’s outside eating as well.
It feels like a family run business. I’m not sure if it is, but I love it here.

Parking is a bit limited, and it can become a hassle to go in and out if you are parked near the back because a lot of cars start piling on when the place gets crowded.
I don’t quite get whats so special about the tacos here. I got a number of the tacos and I didn’t find them all that great. The tacos were a bit soggy in my opinion, the flavor of and salsa used on top of the taco wasn’t all that great, and I didn’t feel the taco as a whole tasted all that great all together.
The cucumber drink was also not that great and passable for me.
Compared to the tacos on First and Newhope, this one is definitely a pass for me, but it is still better than a lot of other taco places so it’s not too bad.

I’m still eating here but this is it: this is the taco joint I’ve been searching for in the OC. Had the cabeza and tripa ($ 1.99 each) and a cantaloupe agua fresca. Excellent, all of it. The tripe especially was outstanding: crisp and seasoned well.
This place, as everyone mentions, is tiny and has the potential for serious parking issues, but we got in no problem at 7:30 on a Thursday night. Safe to say I’ll be returning often!

One of the more popular taquerias in Santa Ana with a loyal following. Taqueria El Zamorano is primarily known for their tender grilled meats, cucumber juice and handmade tortillas. If freshly made, warm tortillas are essential to your taco enjoyment, this place is a must!
Tacos are $ 1.99. Meat options are asada (beef steak), chorizo (sausage), pollo (chicken), carnitas (braised pork) and al pastor (Shepard style pork). Offal options cabesa (beef head) and tripa (beef intestines), and camaron (shrimp) and pescado (fish) are $ 2.50.
Breakfast plates, tortas and burritos are $ 5.99. Combination plates range between $ 6.99 to $ 8.50. Menudo ($ 9.50) on weekends. Extras include their popular Nachos de Carne, $ 7.50. Beverages include jugos, aqua fresca, chocomilk and Mexican sodas.
Dine-​in guests could expect fast, friendly service and a small but clean dining area, including two benches outside. Orders are placed and picked up at the counter. Dishes come on large Chinese style plates, not the typical disposal paper variety.
The al pastor was tender and well seasoned. It, along with a surprisingly moist carnitas, are my clear favorites. They taste even better wrapped inside a warm, handmade tortilla shell. Other meat options, including the asada and offal meats, lacked the depth in flavor, juiciness and consistency in comparison to the meats prepared at some of the best taquerias in town. The nachos de carne was also nothing special.
I am a borderline fan because of the handmade tortillas. Probably best to temper your expectations, however, if you plan to try as many menu items as I have. Good tacos that fall short of all the hype and accolades.
Their parking lot is small and only allows you to enter and exit the same way. It can be nightmarish during busy lunch and dinner hours. Street parking may be a better choice.
Closed Sundays.

Found my new favorite taco place in Santa Ana. Went three times in one week! Their handmade tortilla really makes a difference as opposed to store bought tortillas. Carnitas are good but sometimes you might get a crispy part of the carnitas. Al pastor is also delicious with bits of pineapple inside.
DO NOT forget to order their guac & chips. It’s fresh and delicious although sometimes there are a few stale chips in there.
Contrary to all the reviews, I wasn’t a huge fan of the cucumber drink. A little too lime-​y and other flavors that I can’t put my finger on but just not my cup of tea.

Un sabor rico. Un salon limpio. Buen servicio y comida Rica a excelente al estilo casero. Recomiendo este lugar con ganas. Pedi los huevos rancheros con chorizo. Las tortillas son hechas a mano y huele como la cocina de mi abuela!

This one tops the list when I’m craving carnitas tacos. I was craving some flavor and spice so I busted out my handy dandy trusty Unilocal app and found some great reviews for this taco spot. Why not try it if some Unilocal elites are raving about this place, right?!
The husband likes the beef head tacos and we both enjoy the carnitas tacos. If you’re feeling like being a bit glutenous, go for the carnitas nachos! I feel like I need to run a marathon after this kind of meal… But if I’m going to have a cheat meal, this is worth it! The carnitas are full of flavor and have the perfect balance of tender, juicy and crispy pieces.
Location: A bit sketch mode, but the best taco joints are the ones you have to look over your shoulder right? lol. Actually I don’t feel unsafe, it’s just in a random spot in Santa Ana, near a residential neighborhood. Not hard to find either. Parking is limited, but there’s always a spot or two open.
Cheers and definitely bookmark this place if you’re hankering for a tasty taco!

When Andrew K. prepares for another one of his awesome Taco Crawls, he does his homework. (If you’ve yet to add him:
. I doubt he’d mind.) Seriously, though, Andrew knows his tacos! And if he’s included Taqueria El Zamorano on his set list, their tacos have got to be ridiculous. I mean, they really have no choice! After all, what’s done is done! Andrew has spoken.
On our latest crawl, a tasty meandering through Santa Ana’s alleyways and broadways, we eventually came upon El Zamorano. The parking is sometimes a bit claustrophobic – one way in, one way out – so you may have better luck around the corner amidst the residentials. A slight inconvenience? Perhaps. But once you try a few of El Zamorano’s crispy-​shelled, knockout tacos (my favorite along the crawl, by the way), you’ll let it slide.
El Zamorano’s crew is very personable and helpful, ready to field any and all questions that you might have about their menu. Added, they serve Agua Fresca de Pepino (cucumber water) – so refreshing! – and it’s the perfect taco complement. If you’d like to follow our taco crawl, here are the contenders, for your approval:
El Yaqui Cahuamanta Y Mariscos
1607 – 1699 S Broadway
Suggested: tostada perrona (mixed seafood), tacos de camaron (shrimp)
Note: takes credit cards
Alebrije’s Grill
Cubbon St and S Main St
Suggested: Tacos Acorazado («battleship» tacos) and the Mulitas
Note: cash only
Rigobertos Brothers Taqueria Taco Stand
100 S Mountain View St
Suggested: tacos de carnitas, tacos de tripas
Note: cash only

Wife found this place on Unilocal since we had a hankering for Mexican food after having some family stay with us for a few weeks eating mostly Asian type foods. This place is tiny, and while approaching the location it looked a bit sketchy… as if before entering I needed to knock on the door and give the «code» word to gain excess. Once in I wasn’t impressed since the ac was out and temps were in the mid 90’s. I ordered tacos and nachos to go.
1) 2 carnitas tacos (5 stars)
2) 1 cabeza taco (beef head) (4.5 star, if you like ox tail, you would like this)
3) 2 el pastor tacos (3.5 stars)
4) 1 asada taco (3 stars)
5) nachos with carnitas (5 stars)
I thought it would be like any other tacos shop, but man I was wrong and I’ve been to many in search of the best of the best tacos in OC. The carnitas are amazingly good, I thought Los Reyes in Orange was good… no it had nothing on this place. Slightly crispy edges and melt in your mouth pork. The nachos also was extremely good (I’m not a huge nacho person, but man I polished the whole thing!!!).
Overall I would highly recommend the carnitas hands down, and for those that are a tad more adventurous, try the cabeza aka beef head — think fatty, sweet, melt in your mouth flavorful meat… best in describing it is that it reminds me a lot of beef/​ox tail.
Service was good too!

Buenos Tacos
Muy buena salsa
Los mejores son Los de pastor
Great family business
El agua de pepino es riquisima
Recomiendo este lugar