La Costeña

So I came to this place because I was craving a quesadilla de Asada (beef) with a drink and my bill came to be 11.35 just for a quesadilla with meat and cheddar cheese witch is not typical Mexican quesadilla.
And side of salsa verde/​red witch are good but it didn’t come with no guacamole or sour cream. Overall the meat was good but I would not come again to buy a quesadilla for this much been really simple.

I usually come here for lunch and it’s really good! I’ve tried the tacos (both soft and hard shells) and the burrito (carnitas), all was quite excellent.

Good lunch spot if you’re in the neighborhood or work in the area. I see mostly the tech workers coming here for lunch, including myself. They offer most Mexican food you’d expect from a Taqueria. Their burritos are huge and pretty cheap. Personally, I like to get their nachos. It’s really loaded with everything, I can never finish it! The place gets pretty crowded on weekdays during lunch hours, but they’re pretty quick.

Thank you Unilocalers! I am so thankful for the tip to add your own «additional» items, or else my burrito would taste quite bland. However, even with the additional items, the burrito was average at best. I got the chico (btw the super burrito is quite SUPER, 2 meal size+ super) burrito with no beans, rice and al pastor. That alone sounds like a bland burrito so I asked for cilantro, salsa, sour cream, and corn. Even so, it was just ok. The pastor wasn’t dry, which was nice, but nothing else seemed to be seasoned very well or had much flavor. Without additional items, the burrito with rice, meat and just beans is very cheap– good value. It’s a small little restaurant, so food came out quick– score!
The fact that they are in the Guiness Book of World Record for the largest burrito, does not mean they make the best burritos– just keep that in mind when you come here.

Good choices for fillings (like the chicken adobado). Make sure you look at the sizes of samples posted to the left as you order since the chico can be big enough for some people. I like the tacos since they are small and you get as many as you feel like. (one super+one regular is the right amount for me)

Are you serious? How many years have you been open and had that stupid «our new online ordering form is not yet operational». Then get that option off your freaking web site. Yeah, I get that you are just a burrito shop but hey, it’s 2016 and you are in the Valley.
PS– ordering is a nightmare which is why it’d be nice to be able to order online. The board is confusing as hell and lacks the descriptions that are on your web site menu. Last I checked there are also still no paper menus to look at in the restaurant either. And of course all you get is attitude from the guy behind the counter.

For over 15 years, La Costena was a favorite destination after a day spent walking at the bay lands, or a reward for getting errands done in the area. Loved those big, yummy and inexpensive burritos. I’ve been curious to try the new (to me location), but since it’s out of my way I hadn’t.
After the first of the year I decided to take myself over. I thought it would be easy to order because I’d remembered how it was in the old store. Man, I was so lost! Sure, I looked at the board; it’s massive — and confusing! The guy behind the counter was completely disinterested and unhelpful. I described the sort of thing I wanted (a veggie burrito with everything on it). In a lackluster fashion, he waved at the «extras».
So, I began the tedious process of listing whatever «extras» I could think of, all while racking up a rather expensive burrito (it ended up costing over $ 8). Whatever; I was hungry and tired — nothing else in mind for dinner so I went ahead with the order; the prep guy made the burrito.
Just as my burrito was finished, I looked up at the board and Voila! I noticed the Mountain View Special! This was exactly what I used to order — and had even mentioned to the half-​asleep cashier — and cost a good $ 2 less than the burrito I’d ordered — and included much more. I was annoyed and told him so; he just shrugged and said «next time».
The saving grace was that the burrito actually tasted really good — and also, the prep guy was nice, even if the cashier wasn’t. It just seemed like crummy customer service not to at least say — hey, if you’d like a lot of items, you’re better off w/​the MV special. I mean, how hard would that have been?
Surprise surprise (especially to me); I found myself back at La Costena yesterday afternoon. This time I was prepared; I knew to ask for the MV special! I’d also made up my mind that if Mr. Mean was behind the counter it would be a non-​starter; I’d come back another time.
This time, the cashier was a friendly, if inept young man. I put in my order exactly as it was written on the board and he looked at me blankly; I repeated it; the prep guy overheard went over to help him and showed him how to ring it up in the cash register. All was well (or so I thought). There was a bit of back and forth about a number of items, i.e., do you want this? Yes. How about that? Yes. I’m thinking, yes, I really do want all the items, that’s why I ordered it. However, I was pleased that they did ask about jalalpenos, because I didn’t want those and hadn’t thought to say so. Prep guy proceeds to make my burrito.
Now, here’s where things fall apart. Cashier finishes ringing up my order, then goes back into the prep area. .. and sticks his fingers into the food items to «help» finish up my burrito. Are you kidding me? I could hardly believe what I was seeing. How is this OK? I mean, he’s just been in the cash register handling money and now he’s contaminating my food as well as the condiments he’s just touched.
I wish I’d said something then and there but I was just too shocked; I hadn’t fully taken it in.
Please, please, don’t use the cash register then immediately go over to the food prep area and stick your fingers in the lettuce, olives, corn etc., then put them into my burrito! You’ve just contaminated the food not only for me but for the next customer too! Where’s the training here? Now I have a burrito that I cannot/​will not eat. Not worth taking the chance. Too bad.

I use La Costena for catering for my company and everyone LOVES them! They are generous, use quality ingredients, everything is freshly made and I’ve never been disappointed. The owners, Mike and Carmelita are very nice, kind and very much concerned about their quality of food, so you cannot go wrong with La Costena. Viva la Burrito! hahaha

This place isn’t as good as I remember it back a few years ago. I was working at a school in MY View. I loved when I would stop by and get myself a huge burrito with quac that is nice and chunky fresh. When I finally stopped by to see the new location it had a complete different feel. I was used to the hole in the wall little tiny spot with a line running outside. I still love their chile Colorado but the burritos don’t seem as good. Like I said could be the fact it was such a dive before my expectations were lower but still friendly folks and yummy food. Just with so many burrito options I am not going out of my way to head here.

Wow. What type of Mexican place charges for salsa/​hot sauce? Ordered a burrito just before the lunch rush and still took 10 minute. Did not come with any salsa on the side. Asked for some and cashier told me I had to pay extra for it. This is one place I’m never coming back to.

La Costena packs their burritos; my regular burrito was like a dense brick in its bag as I carried it home. If anything, one gets their calories worth at La Costena. Reading some reviews, it seems like some people are unhappy that the base ingredients in their burritos are minimal, including only rice, beans, and meat, but other reviews prepared me for the customization aspect of La Costena: The burritos are relatively cheap to begin with, regular size being $ 5 or so, and one needs to add any additional ingredients e.g. tomatoes, onions, cilantro, etc. for $ 0.59 each (more for guacamole and fancy extras). Theoretically, if one doesn’t add ingredients, one ends up with a minimal burrito for a cheap price, but if one adds ingredients one ends up with a normal burrito for a normal price. Key word, «theoretically»: I ordered a chicken mole burrito with tomatoes and onions, but when I bit in it seemed like 97% of the burrito was still rice, beans, and meat. This might be the traditional burrito way, but my California-​fied tastes like more balance among the food groups in the tortilla package. I could taste some onion, but I truly couldn’t see it or the tomato I requested. Also, based on the menu board in the restaurant one of the base ingredients is supposed to be salsa, but I couldn’t not detect any salsa in my burrito at all. As for my protein choice, I did not like the gravy quality of the chicken mole. I’ve had at other Mexican restaurants delicious mole that looks like a deep, rich, chocolate-​y sauce, but this mole was a light brown color and starchy. I would definitely choose a different filling if I came again.
I am still giving La Costena an A-​OK review because I think it has great potential to produce an excellent burrito, if one knows the standards of the workers there and thus how to customize to one’s liking, for instance I would probably request extra veggies and salsa next time for myself. One last fun note: La Costena apparently won the Guiness World Record biggest burrito title in 1997 and have an awesome aerial photo of it curving around a field on the wall of their restaurant.

La Costena is my favorite taqueria in the south bay. The service is always fast, prices are reasonable, and the food is delicious.
I definitely recommend this place if you are looking for fast and delicious authentic Mexican food!

After a year I finally get a chance to return and see if La Costeña has gotten better since the move to their new location and new ordering system. I came later in the day there was no line and I had an opportunity to really look at the menu.
It was still confusing I think they need to write specific burritos instead of what they currently have. And the meat choice I wanted wasn’t even written on there. Still room for improvement in that department.
After I tried my burrito however I have had my doubts erased. The flavors are all still there. The rice, refried beans, salsa, guacamole and pollo emborrachado were just as I remembered from my childhood. Everything was a beautiful combination of flavors and yet you could taste each item individually and it still had great flavor.
I’m glad nothing has changed in the kitchen where it really counts. I suggest to people ordering to just tell them what you want and they will make it how you like. I will keep coming back for more.

What do you get when you combine loud music with a language barrier? A mixed up order and a lot of repeating to get it right.
We arrived near closing time and apparently the cleanup person had a goal to walk outta there right at closing time because the mop was going full steam ahead right under our feet. And I must say, there is nothing like eating your dinner with the fresh scent of ammonia in the air.
Maybe the pot was getting near the bottom but the mole special had so little chicken it would qualify as a vegetarian dish.
Not impressed. Two stars rather than one because the others with me swore it deserves 4 stars.

$ 5.43 with tax for a regular carne asada burrito. Choice of beans (like that) rice and meat. Large portion and very good. They charge extra for everything you add like $.59 for tomatoes and $.99 for cheese … seems overpriced to me. Will repeat when it’s convenient.
Be aware it’s in a little shopping center with crowded and tight parking.

This is my second time stopping in for a quick burrito craving. The first time was a good impression — I had the chili lime burrito last time. It was good. So, I had to come back for a second time. The carnitas burrito I had today was good too. I think I have found a go-​to burrito place when I’m in this area.
The food is good. Burritos anyway. I have not tried other items yet — but intend to do in future visits.
The service is good.
The price is excellent.
The place is clean. I especially like the sink at the front near the entrance for you to wash your hands with soap after eating the burrito with your hands. I guess one could always go to the restroom to wash your hands, but, if you don’t need to relieve yourself, the sink is a nice reminder to wash your hands so that your lunch smell does not hang sepia longer than it should.

As someone who has been frequenting taquerias in the Bay Area for 20 years, I have always understood a «Super Burrito» to be a burrito with toppings like cheese, sour cream, and sometimes guacamole. Not here. Here, a super burrito is a plain burrito with no toppings that is twice as big as you can actually eat.
If you desire something that resembles what any other taqueria would call a Super Burrito, order a «regular burrito,» find the optional toppings on a completely different part of the menu and order them separately.

The best burritos! For three straight years, since I moved to the neighborhood, this place was within walking distance. However, the new location is not too far either.
I get veggie burritos and they are very generous with the portions for veggies. Hard to point anything they can do better especially when they charge such great prices.
They have a signage for 53 MPB… that says it all.

Save your money and go to a real taqueria.
I ordered a carne asada burrito and it was purely rice and hardly any meat. The meat tasted beyond bland and the rice was mushy.

2 tacos for $ 5 was not bad, but the flavor or my tacos al pastor was nothing spectacular. Just kill my hunger post shopping at the Dollar Tree nearby (that is how I found this place). The neon and palm trees outside make it an attractive place. Inside is kept clean and nice, and you can see the kitchen staff in action. Service was fast and friendly and I will go back if I feel the urge of Mexican food without much pretensions.

I like the burritos and the quesadillas here. The spiciness is just right.
I ask for the hottest an when eating it I was like nah this ain’t hot but it crept up on me.
The place is very clean they even got this cool lil sink inside the seating area .
They have a really nice outside seating area too.
They gotta work on the communication a lil tho cuz I didn’t order Spanish rice but its what I got.
I was just really hungry so I went for it anyway but it woulda been nice getting what I actually ordered.

Great carne asade plate, perfect amount of food for 6 bucks and great selection of mexican sodas.
I’ve gotten the tacos, burriots and nachos here as well, all are good, burrito has alittle too much rice and not enough meat/​sour cream, but overall really great place and fast!

Whenever someone from outside the Bay Area comes out I take them to La Costena. They make some of the best, biggest burritos I’ve ever seen. They also got the world record in 1997 for «World’s Largest Burrito».
Every time I go it’s like the food gets better. It’s astounding.