El Paisa Taqueria

Top Fruitvale Taqueria. Not only is the food excellent but the restaurant has great vibes. Its bright and full of life and is an authentic experience. I don't know about you - but getting your tacos from an ice chest in a Walmart parking lot isn't cutting it lately for me. In fact, ever more present people are setting up BBQs on the sidewalks selling burritos and out of convenience you and I are going to these places. Pull into their parking lot. If it's full I was able to get a street parking very close. Outside you will notice the extensive outdoor spaces and tents were you can eat. The next thing you will notice is likely a bit of a line... but don't worry it goes fast and is worth the wait.Everybody was polite and respectful - and don't worry - the line moves fast. Enjoy the music and live green plants and elaborate flower bouquets and other sights and sounds. As you finally enter the restaurant the building has a soul to it. You hear multiple people chopping meat simultaneously and the kitchen is within view as you order. The guys making the tacos are no doubt pros who have done this 8 hours (or more!?) for many many years. I can just tell. This is so old school. Its like stepping back in time - and getting transported to somewhere else. Its something you just don't feel when your at a taco truck on the side of a busy street - nothing wrong with El Gordo truck a little ways down but standing on a street corner eating a burrito lacks a little something.This restaurant is warm and inviting. At the cashier I had some help choosing a variety of tacos. Some beef some pork. Expertly made with cilantro, onions and you go to the salsa bar outside for all the other veggies.A dinner with family can be a very important part of life - so lets trust and leave it to the pros at El Paisa.

You gotta make sure and go to the right place. On International, in the opposite direction from Fruitvale Station, is El Paisa Taco. This is always the case. One movie studio releases Ants, another studio, A Bug's Life. On Olympic in L.A. the more populated, but less acclaimed Mariscos Cuatro Vientos parks just north from Mariscos Jalisco.In conclusion, you don't want to go to El Paisa Taco.You may find, having been, that you didn't really want to go to El Paisa Taqueria. But you did. After all, it has a Bib Gourman in Michelin.Then, does Michelin really know what it's doing anymore. After the great empire of French haut cuisine crumbles, La Guide has only struggled to make sense of the food world. El Paisa Taqueria is pretty good; but many are like it and some even exceed it.It's not El Paisa's fault that Michelin slapped a title on it. Still, Paisa benefits, and bears some onus: heavy hangs the Bib.My order: chorizo taco, suadero taco, agua de piña. Sausage. Mr. Smooth. Piña. Sounds like the entertainment at a bachelorette party.Everything was good. Meats cooked nicely. Garnished magnanimously with nopal and pearl onions. Salsas were ok. Could have had more variety of aguas. Nothing bad; just... slightly quotidian for the hype.

Tripa taco - juicy and fatty with a crispy pork-cracklin'-like crunch in each bite. (But it's beef tripe, not pork.) I was hesitant to get this but when it came out and I took a bite I never looked back. Would definitely come back just for this. Suadero taco - moist, soft and meaty. The meat texture was that of a braised meat, soft and juicy with the right amount of fat. However it didn't have the same burst of flavor and texture that I was looking for that I found in the tripa, so I wouldn't get this one again. It was a bit too soft and braised for me, didn't have the texture that I wanted.Cabeza taco - Tasted similar to the suadero -- meaty, juicy, and fatty, but I prefer it to the suadero because it has a bit more texture and variance in flavor. I would consider getting this one again.The pickled pineapple at the salsa bar was unique and something I've never seen before. Tasted like tepache when I took a bite. Sweet, cinnamony, and acidic -- it balances the savory and fatty tacos.Fresa horchata - nice and smooth strawberry, very refreshing!Next time, try the chorizo taco. I heard that they make their chorizo in-house!

Who would have thought that I venture onto International Blvd where all one hears about shootings, robberies, and car break ins. Well donning my protective vest, mace and night stick, I had just finished a meeting about 1.5 miles away and was with someone who had been here multiple times for their street tacos. Along the way, there were hordes of family run food trucks, family vans and cars where they were making all sorts of Hispanic street food complete with benches, picnic chairs, tents, etc. One wonders if they all have permits to operate a mobile food establishment? El Paisa can best be described as a no frills quick serve taqueria. A line starts where you decide what you want, pay the cashier and then cafeteria style wait to get your order prepared by multiple workers. I felt the al pastor street tacos were just average that my colleague ordered and my carnitas burrito although portion size was great was lacking overall compared to other similar burritos that I have ordered at similar concepts like El Paisa (El Farolito in SF or Pancho Villas in SF or San Mateo). Be warned that if you are wanting enchiladas they do not serve them here. Dining inside there was a Mariachi guitar singer who played for all but 15 minutes in front of us but moved on as we did not have money to tip - Venmo or PayPal is a better way these days to get those tips. Overall just an average experience and will not be going back. Parking lot can get backed up with cars blocking the entrance on International Blvds to turn waiting for cars leaving their parking space which creates a line of chaos. I ended up parking across the street with my catalytic still connected to my car! Priviate security guard carrying a side arm patrols the outside restaurant area.

This place. What a hidden gem. Recommended to my hubby from a colleague and it was worth the visit. Tacos are delicious and very local/authentic flavors and crowds. Plenty of area to sit albeit crowded in the weekend it's still a quick turnaround. You order the food first then you find a place to sit and enjoy your meal. We shared few tacos with our 6 years old and tried few of the meat tacos and all were delicious. Our daughter said these were absolutely very yummy tacos and she knows good food :) Would come back again!There is a small parking lot but also plenty of street parking and bathroom is available right outside the restaurant.

East oakland has some of the best Mexican food in East bay and it reminds me of LA/SD quality. Some things to consider (mentioning these after reading others' reviews): food workers don't wear gloves when handling the foods, some find this unsanitary but some also find this customary lol. $1 charge for using card so bring cash if you want. Most of the workers speak mostly Spanish so don't expect five star American service, it's a traditional Mexican restaurant. I ordered the bipolar quesadillas where you can choose two different meats. The chicken was BOMB so flavorful and juicy. The asada was a little more bland. But the plate came with salsa, chips, roasted onions, and half of a whole avocado. The condiment bar has many add-ons, and the horchata was really good. I would definitely come back here for good and authentic Mexican food. There's plenty of seating both indoor and outdoor and it's beautifully decorated.

This was a truly fantastic taqueria. No frills but just the most flavorful and tender meats. Favorites were cabeza, lengua and tripe. The al pastor and the carne asada were overcooked.

Really fantastic tacos in East Oakland as you will find the parking lot full and a line out the door. We just finished Disney On Ice's Frozen and Encanto with a bunch of friends and had a bunch of hungry kids and adults in tow. Food here never disappoints and they have a wonderful selection of drinks and a fully stocked and always fresh salsa bar. The music is popping and the decor is always on point too. Tonight they had a bunch of fresh flowers in front of their deity across from the registers. I also want to thank the chef for cutting my La Bipolar quesadillas into 4 pieces to share with my two kids. They ended up eating half my meal so I appreciated him cutting it into 4 pieces so I could eat half! Thank you!

First time here, Friendly service, welcoming, amigable, quiet. Food was great love the taco tripas delicious probably the best in the bay! The quesadillas I prefer white cheese they gave me yellow and it was surprisingly delicious! Rice and beans were made right!!! The chorizo & asada tacos were bomb! The chips and salsa were delicious and hitting the spot! The only thing I didn't like was the consistency of the green salsa necesita ser un poco más espesa, all delicious great flavors! I'll be back! Deliciosos platillos, tacos buen sabor regresaré. Olvidaba el agua Fresca de horchata, Jamaica y piña perfecto! Buen sabor ni dulce ni simple perfecto! The place feels like home welcoming and cozy. Gracias ps my first review isn't this spot they have a similar name sorry.

I had heard about El Paisa and finally had the opportunity to try it today. Ordering and food pickup is cafeteria style and quick. If you don't want to be charged an extra dollar, bring cash. They are really generous with the meat. I ordered carne asada and birria tacos. The birria was bland but will definitely have the carne asada again on my next visit. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. I understand pigeons outside around the patio seating may be unavoidable but pigeons were roaming around inside around tables and the condiment bar too so took off one star.