Mi Ranchito Taqueria

Not the most glamorous place but that’s easily overlooked because the food is excellent! I’ve lived in Chicago, New York and Miami and this is some of the best carnitas I have ever had!

Went for the breakfast: huevos rancheros. The ham seemed as though it was packaged lunch meat. Maybe their lunch is better although the squeezed juice was good.

Just straight up good Mexican food.

If you are in mood for low key lunch or dinner, they’ve got your back.
Pros:
1. Good food, delicious salsa
2. Friendly staff
3. Very affordable
Cons:
None I can think of.

Vegan and vegetarian tip:
Refried beans have chorizo but the whole beans and black whole beans do not have any meat :)
Vegetarian items are clearly labeled on the menu. To make vegan just minus the cheese and sour cream. I have asked several times and the whole beans and the black whole beans DO NOT have meat in them (that’s also why they can label it vegetarian on their menu!).
I usually get the special vegetable burrito that is printed in black font on a separate white sheet of paper hanging from the bottom of the menu. It’s vegan!!!
The special vegetable burrito is a yummy whole wheat tortilla and inside is: zucchini, cauliflower, carrots, green beans, broccoli… yes that sounds weird but it’s sooooooo good. I can only ever eat half of it.
We usually get a side of guacamole and comes on a small plate, not a bowl, consistency is thin because it has lots of lime and lemon juice and not a lot of onion or pico ingredients mix. Exactly the way I like it.
They have a salsa bar and I like to mix the pico and the red salsa (pretty spicy!) together and it makes the perfect blend of yummy. They have fresh radishes and green verde salsa too on the salsa bar. Tortilla chips are located next to the salsa bar. Grab a basket and liner and help yourself.
Be careful with the sliced pickled carrots and jalapeños, they are spicy.
I usually get bottled water but they have everything from Orangina to beer to homemade juices to horchata to sodas in bottles to soda in cans.
Service is nice and super fast. Great hole in the wall place for fresh homemade veggie mex!

Best, Carnitas.
Delicious Salsa
Good price (especially for laurel st)
Everything you’d want a taqueria to have.

They catered an Eagle Scout ceremony for us last Sunday, on one of the hottest days of the year. Miguel was gracious, hospitable, an excellent chef, and all of the food was fresh and cooked delicious. Everyone raced about the food!
Went by tonight to thank him again and take home some burritos which were just as good and fresh and enjoyed by everyone in our house. Definitely our new go to taqueria!

Has to be one my favorite Mexican chow spots in the Bay. The service is good. Food is fresh. Seasoned well. Prices are reasonable and they are open late enough to get a late night snack.

Great taqueria in San Carlos. I’ve been here about 20 times and love it every time.
I usually order regular tacos with cheese. 2 tacos is plenty for me. I like carnitas, al pastor, and carne asada. I think al pastor might be my favorite.
The salsa is also great, and you get unlimited refills on the chips.
The service is great and the owner is always very friendly. It’s a great place to go for tacos, lunch, hang out with friends, and just grab a bite to eat.

Hole in the wall Mexican spot, very informal and simple. They forgot my order and had me wait to remake the supreme burrito. Came out rather disappointing! Parts of the inside were semi cold and you could taste every ingredient separately. Really did not go together well and was super unflavorful.

If you go to a taqueria for the aesthetics, then this place is not for you.
If you are looking for amazing Mexican food, fresh chips and salsa, and where you may be one of the only non-​Hispanic people in the building, this is the place for you!
The food is delicious, the portions are generous, and you can easily feed two (with two beers and horchata!) for just over $ 15.
Will definitely come here again.

I used to see this place all time but never walked in. Then I did try it one day and it was deliciouso to the max. I used to go to Ceviches but they aren’t very generous with their food. I am glad I switched! And they are so reasonable in price! Service is top notch!

This place has been around for ages. It is old school no frills Mexican food. They get you in and out, the food is affordable, simple & tasty.
Pro tip… get a fresh squeezed carrot juice with ice on a hot San Carlos day.

While waiting for the TOWN, stopped in here for a snack. Ordered the chips’ alajores and negra modelo. Well, the beer is good

I am mexican and I have lived in the Bay Area for almost 7 years. I have lived in San Mateo, San Carlos and now Mountain View. I have tasted all of the taquerias because (surprise, surprise) I love eating tacos. This is my favorite Taqueria! They have the best tacos, best prices, and best service. I have been eating here (since I found it) which is about 4 years ago. If you have not tasted their burritos or their food you need to go! Right Now! Seriously, folks! This is the best place in the whole peninsula! If you love tacos you are going to love their food and their amazing salsas! Best in the whole area! Let me know what you think :)

Mi Ranchito
Laurel
San Carlos
Mexican
Friendly counter service
Delicious burritos
Tasty tacos
Veggie options
Tasty aguas frescas

This place has a nice family feel to it. Interesting floral table coverings and horse shaped mirrors give it a Mexican vibe.
Salsa fresca was decent for being at the salad bar.
Free chips!!! Always a plus.
Got an al pastor super burrito. Was good meat and well marinated. Nothing really stood out but Id go back.
They also had a tv with sports on it.

This gets 4 stars already for being an unexpected dirt cheap hole-​in-​the-​wall in the middle of chi-​chi boutique San Carlos. The food is more 3 stars. Nice murals, plastic tablecloths, order up at the counter. My enchilada plate with sour cream and guac was ok, and so was Hubby’s burrito. If I had to get stuff done around here again, and felt like a quick no-​fuss Mexican meal, I’d come back.

I love the food here. I almost always get a Super Burrito with Pastor. The Pastor is usually super greasy (which is the way I like it). My S.O. always gets crunchy tacos and loves those. I’ve tried the standard taqueria tacos and was unimpressed (the ones at El Gruellense are much better, IMHO).
Minus one star for the dirty looks the owner gives you if you take more that one or two teeny tiny cups of salsa fresca and for the random times they close early or run out of rice (a mexican restaurant that’s out of rice???).

Well I was in San Carlos and the store where I wanted to shop was not open till noon, so I noticed the Taquesia two doors down and said, looks clean and look like a place for lunch. I checked Unilocal with favorable results. The place was fabulous. The beans were excellent, the al pastor tacos excellent, the chips and salsa excellent. I wan to come back and try more, it just happens to be a 185 mile ride! Oh well! If you are in San Carlos and want a nice lunch, this is one good choice. And I do like the murals too!