Rosita’s Al Pastor

Fantastic food. Real deal Mexican food at bargain prices. Great green /​jalapeño (Dona) salsa.

Great place for lunch! Menu was diverse and affordable. The salsa was awesome. I had two tacos and I was stuffed. They were bursting with flavor and the meat was moist.
Service was friendly and speedy. If I lived in Austin, I would be a regular!

This is my go-​to recommendation for real Mexican food in this city. It’s beautifully cheap and consistently delicious. My usual lunch is two al pastor tacos with onions, cilantro, and fresh avocado — total comes out as $ 4.88.

4.5 stars. This used to be my goto place for Al Pastor tacos like the ones on the street in Tezuitlan, Mexico with friends after spending months trying as many of the taco trucks (with 4 stars or more) as I could all over the city. But now with TacoMore up North I don’t get down to Riverside as much which is a shame. I like each with Taco More having the edge for their condiment bar of roasted jalapeños, cucumbers, radishes and hot sauces.

4.75 stars. Back in the early part of this millennium, I was a taco-​starving student who happened upon Rosita’s Al Pastor, a gateway to my obsession with the trompo-​style cooking of marinated pork meat cradled within a taco replete with cilantro, onions, and sweet morsels of pineapple. Rosita’s version is generous with achiote paste maximizing both flavor and display for what in my early days connoted to the best damn taco I had ever eaten.
Over a decade has passed. This guy has eaten a ton of great tacos in every shape, size, and form. Most recently, I had an al pastor taco at Chela’s in San Antonio which, despite its vivid contrast to Rosita’s, stole the mantle for best al pastor taco I have eaten.
Then I went back to Rosita’s.
I’m not sure which taco is better; the distinction is really close. Rosita’s Al Pastor meat is a textural treat with both stringy sections of pork combined with soft, supple, pillowy portions that simply melt in the mouth. The cilantro is fresh, and the pineapple is understated and a wonderful complement to the taco. Most tacos begin and end with the tortilla, and Rosita’s still makes some of the best corn tortillas I’ve ever eaten (for the flour people, they can do that as well). The prices at Rosita’s have barely changed which is a testament to them. Service is as friendly as it used to be. I remember back in the early 2000s it was sometimes a bit difficult to order because my Spanish was weak; there is no longer any communication barrier though I still wish my Spanish was stronger as I’d hopefully be able to communicate my appreciation for this humble taco joint in a more appreciable manner.
There are undoubtedly many places in Austin where you can find absolutely stunning tacos of nearly every flavor. That said, I’d be hard-​pressed to say you can find a better al pastor taco in the city. Rosita’s remains a standard-​bearer, and is certainly a memorable addition to any culinary visit to the State Capitol.

Absolutely delicious tacos al pastor. As a person who is from a border town and used to spend weekends eating pastor off a trompo (the big stacked thing the meat I cooked on) these are pretty close to hitting home. The truck is open late anf highly recommended

I’ve had tacos, particularly al pastor style, at probably 10 different food trucks or restaurants around town, and I have to say imo these are hands down — and by far — the best ones. The pastor marinated meat is perfectly seasoned and is loaded with flavor. I get them on corn tortillas with onions, cilantro, avocado and pineapple. A little squirt of lime, the awesome green sauce and it’s an amazing combination of sweet, salty with a nice crunch of the onions and pineapple. While you’re at it, ask for extra lime and squeeze some into your Topo.
It’s hard to order anything else once you’ve had them, but the Torta Suiza and Torta Cubano are also delicious if you want to switch it up.
Be prepared to wait about 15 minutes after ordering, but it’s well worth it.

This is delicious, bargain-​priced Tex-​Mex comfort food that is well deserving of its reputation. I loaded up on four breakfast tacos this morning, and though I didn’t immediately fall in love, it’s understandable why they seem to end up on all the best-​of lists that are taco-​related.
As the name implies, the pastor is the star here. It has its own section on the menu, and is served in seemingly twenty different ways — on tacos, enchiladas, tortas, gorditas, you name it. I’ve loved the pungent flavors of pastor ever since I first came across it in Austin, and for a place to serve up a good pastor dish is almost as important to me as making perfect migas. Rosita’s delivers on the hype surrounding their main attraction.
I’m always in the mood for breakfast tacos — if they’re on the menu, ordering becomes a pretty simple decision. I got two pastor tacos to get my fill of it, and was happy with the result. The pork was cooked just right, with good consistency. The meat didn’t have the best taste, but the seasoning was excellent. The spices make the pork bright red here, the kind of distinct color that you don’t always get with pastor elsewhere. To me, that bright appearance means your dish is going to be good, and it did not disappoint. As usual, the onion and cilantro they added on top gave the whole thing that classic taste. Definitely worth a return trip to try it in a different format. I also ordered a taco with salchicha, which is basically a sliced up hot dog, but its saltiness worked really well with the egg and salsa. I should mention, the salsa here is very good. Plenty of flavor so that you can enjoy your basket of chips before the meal. I also ordered a migas taco to see how their migas compare to the best around. It wasn’t perfect but was pleasantly delicious, as the tortilla strips were cooked up nice and crunchy.
All in all, a satisfying and satiating meal. Four tacos were just the right amount (though I was super hungry), and for less than $ 7 without tax it’s an absolute steal. The weakest part of the meal was the tortillas, which were pretty dry. Not a big deal though.
It’s also worth mentioning, this place gives off the vibe of a relaxing, down-​home environment. It’s a pretty sizable venue, but though it was packed with customers it wasn’t too loud. We got to lounge in a side booth and enjoy a good lunch without distractions. The service was good, and you finish by paying at the counter. An all-​around good experience.

I’m in love with this place, it has been my emergency go-​to more than a few times, a date night spot, and has served as the occasional sober station.
I’ve only come here for the Al Pastor tacos, although I’ve heard the breakfast tacos are on point as well. I really appreciate their fresh tortillas and the 24hr family recipe marinated pork, for only $ 1.75! If you want to do it the right way, however, I suggest adding at least piña and onions for an additional .25 each per taco. But adding cheese and avocado transforms the taco experience and I highly recommend it. I know, I too have doubted the idea, but I do not regret trying it.
They have 3 or 4 plastic picnic style tables in front of the truck. This isn’t the fastest taco in town, I’m glad it’s not, but it’s worth the wait.
The reason I have 4 stars instead of 5 is because a few times they’ve forgotten to add items that I was sure they charged me for. It may only be a quarter but I tend to buy in bulk so it can add up. However, they’ve still got my favorite flavor so I keep coming back!

We stopped by here real quick on a Thursday night. Husband has been here before but it was my first. Super fast service even though it was busy!
Some of the best Al pastor tacos I have had! Will definitely be returning!

I tried this place today because I always see a lot of people there. So I figure they had good food. I was right. They have some pretty good tacos. Taste more homemade then anywhere else.
Friendly service. Employees are all smiling and helpful and look like their having a good time hanging out with each other in there.
They ran out of salsa Verde. which is why I gave them 4 stars. but the red sauce is pretty good too.
This place was suprisingly good.

Tacos al pastor was a little too dry for me. On the reviews the meat looks juicy wet when I had it it was pretty dry. On top of that every topping is an additional $.25. I can understand how the avocado would be $.25 extra, but onion $.25 extra?! I got a little excited when they said handmade tortillas.
Thought it was a little too much for a couple slices of onion. To say this is more like street tacos I am pretty disappointed. Maybe I’ve just had too many tacos in my lifetime to say these were not that great. I would say it’s not worth the time. The flower was a little too hard for my tastes to be honest. I ended up eating the side with the meat and Terry and off most of the tortilla

This is an updated review: I stopped by the trailer (I like it better than the restaurant), and ordered 2 Al Pastor and 1 Chichirrone tacos. I was scrambling like crazy transporting people, recording equipment and slipped out for an bit to get something to eat. Wet tables, no hay problema. Ordered from the friendly people and the trailer I love that I long have considered to have the best Al Pastor tacos in Austin. I wrapped up 1 Al Pastor to carry for emergencies, and ate the other 2 tacos. For once, the Al Pastor disappointed. They were still great, and I will be back, but it was not up to their usual standards in my humble opinion. The spices seemed much milder, it was too dry, and I had to pile on the hot sauce. I am a fan of this place and will be back and also eat at the restaurant. Note to those who travel to Mexico City. These are close, but not the same as the ones in Mexico City that you find with street vendors. I am sure it is due to health regulations and the FDA «War on Food that Tastes Good».
Do not hesitate to give this a try. It is definitely worth the money. It could have been an off day. Potential for me to send those stars to 4 or 5 is high! :-)

Ahhh taco truck food how I’ve missed you. Al pastor is delicious, and a fantastic value. They don’t just load a bunch of beans in the tacos and charge $ 5 for a a bulked up bean bomb. These are large tacos with lots of meat. No big words necessary, no lengthy review. Just trust me when I say I know where my next taco is coming from.
They’re quick if there’s no line but be prepared to wait if you come at peak hours.

They have the most authentic Pastor tacos I have tasted in US. The Horchata water is great.
I have also had trip and barbacoa tacos. Have to go back and type more thing on their wide menu.

The Pastor Tacos are to die for! Their tortillas are homemade and they are pretty quick to get your food out. They also keep Big Red stocked– a plus in my book! The chicken fajita was a little dry but overall this place is great!

I was looking for a brunch place really close to my complex and came across this one. I think it was originally a food truck that became a restaurant. The tortillas are made fresh and so is the salsa. They don’t tell you that, but you can taste it. Also the horchata isn’t incredibly sweet so you can drink the entire thing. I had the caldo de pollo which was very tasty and a really big portion for just $ 8. My bf had the barbacoa tacos and bacon and egg tacos. He loved it. I recommend coming here for a quick awesome priced bite.

My friend and I wanted to grab breakfast tacos on the way out of town the other morning. I hate how overrated tacos in general are in Austin, but especially breakfast tacos. I just don’t get the hype.
But…they’re handy when you’re the one driving. So, we stopped at Al Pastor’s taco truck. Not half bad, and 4 tacos and a large Mexi cola for $ 10. The potatoes and eggs in my taco were actually tasty. Best part, pretty sure they use butter. Tortilla, a suitable vehicle but nothing else.

I was craving some al pastor tacos and what better place to get some than Al Pastor?! So, we fought rush hour traffic just to come try this food truck on Riverside. Here’s another obvious question for you: What did we get? Al Pastor Tacos. Add the pineapple. Delicious! You can’t beat these tacos. The sauce also added some delicious spice.
My only complaint was there were bees flying all over the tables and around the truck. They landed in our food several times and seemed especially attracted to my green water bottle. It made a pretty funny sight: three girls running around trying to avoid bees, all while still trying to shove tacos in their mouths. I’m not really sure how you prevent bee accumulation but it definitely would’ve improved the outdoor dining experience.
So, my advice: get the Al Pastor Tacos and get them to-​go.

Yes! Yes! Yes! I so wanted an authentic street taco experience while I was visiting here in Austin and this spot did not disappoint — thank you Unilocal!
Coming out of downtown, you find yourself in a part of town that seems to have seen better days — although the Starbucks and Chipotle across the street are signs that things may be a changing once again. After you pass by the 4^th check cashing place, you come upon a plaza that features the La Rumba Disco and the American Bingo parlor as its anchor tenants. Like an oasis in the desert, a glorious run down trailer sits in the parking lot with cheap plastic tables and glorious, glorious pork.
The billboards are in Spanish, the customers only speak Spanish, and the signs on the trailer are written in Spanish. But delicious is a great word in any language!
I stepped up and ordered two Al Pastor tacos — one corn and one flour. The Al Pastor had a nice spice to it and the tortillas were awesome. The onion, lime, and cilantro were all fresh and crunchy.
The trailer also serves breakfast.
I know taco stand trailers are a dime a dozen in many neighborhoods. However, for its proximity to downtown and its deliciousness, this one deserves your business!