La Elegante Taqueria

For generations, a family favorite for authentic, bold-flavored Mexican food. The tacos, tortas, and burritos prepared at this tiny Chinatown gem are considered some of the best in town. They have been prominently featured on ABC30 Dine and Dish. The Fresno Bee voted them the Best Tacos in the Central Valley for 2024 (and many years that proceed that).Patrons rave about their carne asada (beef steak) tacos, burritos, tortas, menudo on the weekends, and adobada (marinated pork).The menu consists of traditional, simple but very flavorful dishes. Tacos, burritos, tortas, quesadillas, meat plates, and Mexican-style soups are some of the dishes on the menu. The prices are very reasonable. The food comes quickly.The menudo is as good as advertised. The tripe tasted clean and was tender and chewy. The broth was flavorful. They will give you more stacks of tortillas if you ask at no additional cost.The tacos start at $3.23 and are served with guacamole, onions, cilantro, cabbage, and chiles on warm, soft corn tortilla shells. The taco combos come with two tacos, a side of whole (not refried) beans, rice, and sliced cucumbers. Each taco comes with a sliced lemon wedge. You will be charged extra for cheese, $0.75.The adobada was good but I did not love it. I enjoyed the juiciness and flavor of the carne asada more. The salsa is fiery hot, tangy, thick, and has a subtle sweetness. They put just enough on the tacos. Any more and it would be too spicy. Service seemed hurried but this is because they are always so busy. The servers are friendly and attentive. They might need extra time to get back to you. The restaurant is small and seating is limited. It is the most popular lunch spot in Chinatown, so expect long lines and wait times during lunch hours throughout the week. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 AM - 2 PM. Closed on Sunday and Monday.

I've always heard great things about this place but just never had the chance to try it. Their hours are kinda odd. But let me tell you, these are the best tacos in Fresno. Hands down. The usual taco comes with your protein, avocado sauce, red salsa, cabbage, onions, cilantro. They give REAL avocado sauce. Most places just blend squash and try to push it as "avocado salsa," it really gives the tacos something different. They also give cabbage! I love cabbage in my tacos, adds a good crunch and sweetness. And the way they cook their tortillas, they get this nice crust on the outer part. The asada was amazingly seasoned. Everything just worked well together. This place would have gotten 5 stars but I'm not a fan of the beans and rice. I was expecting more of a refried beans and rice but it's really boiled beans and rice. I felt like they lacked a bit of flavor. I also wasn't a fan of the cabeza tacos. I was just expecting more. It was kind of gamey, also kinda lacked flavor as well. BUT regardless, the asada tacos were so good it cancels out everything else, that's how good it is. A definitely must try. I know their hours are odd. But you have to make the trip out.

La Elegante was just La Ele-OK for me. I was not impressed. It wasn't bad. But it didn't live up to the hype. I may have ordered wrong? Idk how you can go wrong with tacos at a taco shop. But the other patrons were ordering a wide variety of things off the menu. Maybe I'm just not a fan of my tacos swimming in creamy guac-sauce. I could have done without the sauce altogether. The food seemed to be good quality and well prepared. The seating situation gave me anxiety. So packed, I had to wait outside while waiting for my to-go order. Maybe I'll give it another go someday.

El chile/salsa que le ponen a la comida, it's delicious!! The service with the young beautiful ladies is exceptional, excellent customer service skills no matter how busy they are. Restaurant managers should swing by and take some notes on how this restaurant treats and welcomes their people! From Gema

Just an FYI, this is based on one visit- My review may change down the road. I finally was able to make it to La Elegante after I have been told by my coworkers and friends that they have the best tacos. I used to live near Clovis and tacos in the south or west side of town are just better. It is in the west side, E and Kern street. Upon arrival, it was very hole in the wall. The tables were filled and there was a line out the door. We decided to eat there sat on the bar stools. Service 3.5/5: It looks like a family run restaurant and hole in the wall, but they were decent and fast. Food 3/5: We got the combo plate for $12 each with one asada taco and one adobada taco and rice and beans on the side. Let me break it down:Tortillas- Tacos came wrapped in two medium size corn tortillas, my tortillas were crunchy, my husband's were not. Made me feel like I was eating a crunchy taco from taco bell and I prefer soft tacos.Beans- Bland, tasted boiled and not refried? Rice- Had cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers. Too much going on and the tomatoes and cucumbers were thrown all over the best part of my meal which was the Al Pastor taco. I like my meals more simple. Tacos with cilantro and onions (I did leave the salsa and guac on my tacos) I prefer my mexican rice and beans with no fuss. Al Pastor- After picking out the tomatoes and cucumbers out of my al pastor taco- It was very good. It is the best al pastor I have had in Fresno. I hated that they covered the best part of my meal with those items. I would have went to Taco Bell if I wanted a crunchy taco with tomatoes. Asada- My asada taco tasted like a cross between a street taco, robertitos and Taco Bell. Not my favorite. The salsa in the tacos were okay. Not as spicy as I liked. Price- With tip and tax, it came to about $35 for lunch for 2. A little steep. Overall- Our spot is Don Tacha because we can get a few simple street tacos and rice and beans for only $13. However, if we had a really bad craving for Al Pastor, we may make it over here. I was just really thrown off with the diced tomatoes and cucumbers all over my food.

Delicious & satisfying, time after time. A "destination" restaurant, especially now that highway construction to accommodate the high speed railway makes getting there more challenging. But worth the effort. My go-to order is the Carne Asada Taco Plate. The meat is well-seasoned, lean, tender, sliced into short strips, with thin-sliced cabbage, just the right amount of a spicy salsa-guacamole sauce and contained in doubled soft corn tortillas. The whole beans and rice accompaniments are also yummy. A couple of slices of fresh cucumber give contrast to the savory heat. Taco perfection, IMHO. Other menu items, burritos & quesadillas, are also high-quality, but I'm addicted!

Best tacos in the entire world...for real though. I've been throughout Mexico and LATAM and this is THE BEST!

I came to ale Elegante Taqueria several times most recently on 2/17/23. The Al pastor tacos are delicious 9/10 (just wish their tortillas would be homemade). But their food is out of this world as for tacos!!!I did ask if the Al Pastor was pork and I was informed it was as they mostly have beef, pork and goat items no chicken. The Al Pastor is my favorite and the goat was pretty good too! I even got the dude a burrito a few days ago. The Al Pastor is hard to believe it's pork!! As it's so juicy, mouth watering delicious!!! They do have dine in but limited seating and counter top seating too!It is small inside and staff is always friendly. A nice homey feel. Catering to Spanish speakers and non Spanish speakers as myself ...I can't ask for more than this place!!! This place is always packed but they whip out orders so quick as they are prepared for the rush. I usually come in close to closing time and today during the rush for the first time I was in and out within minutes.I always tip them really well. My order has always been 100% accurate!!! I am really impressed by this place. Since I'm working in the area now this is my go to spot for tacos :D I'm always craving them!!Parking is a hit or miss but I usually find parking. Overall, this is probably my favorite taco place in Fresno. Two Al Pastor Tacos is $7 which is not bad. They are huge and filling. Did I mention delicious?I can tell this restaurant works hard and take pride in their food 100%. Flavors are addictive and right amount of spice. Overall, I will be back!!! Great service, delicious food and cute inside. Location is perfect too!!!

Hands down the best Asada tacos in town. I make the drive just because they are so good. Staff is friendly and service is fast.

It's easy to drive past La Elegante as it's a small location in the middle of other businesses but do yourself a favor and stop by. It's a takeout only spot, no eat in. They are however extremely efficient and have your order ready faster than you can scroll through your timeline.I've tried the tacos and the torta, both were so good I didn't get a picture before I started eating. I usually get the asada and adobada. Both are well seasoned. The tacos here are a hearty portion much bigger than most taco trucks. Check them out for a quick lunch in the area.