Rolberto’s Taco Shop

Stopped in for late night food because everything else in the area was closed. The bars covering the back counter area are off putting– It’s Adams Ave not the ghetto. The food took significantly longer than any taco shop I have ever been to but when it came it was good. The prices were as expected for your average taco shop. The door was open, even though it was around midnight so it was freezing inside and there are only five booths against the side walls. More seating is possible and desirable, but overall I would go back.

This place has the authentic Mexican food I love. I drive right past el zarape and into normal heights for the food here. They don’t try to offer the fake guacamole or loads of nasty shredded american cheese that is cold. Really great carne asada chips/​fries and rolled tacos here. They don’t need the frills or addition of pico de gallo or beans on the chips! They also put a nice sprinkling of cotija cheese which is becoming harder to find at the Mexican taco shops in SD! Their red hot sauce is also one of the best I’ve had, none of the chipotle black flakes.

Great place to eat if you want hole in the wall Mexican food, open 24/​7, traditional quarter gum ball/​stickers/​kids toys machines and a couple arcade style games in the corner. Affordable and good quantity and good taste if you’re looking for a little more traditional Mexican food.

I disagree with most reviews. I got a California burrito and a carne asada burrito for less then $ 12…I didn’t eat both. My gf had one. They were both really good and nice big size. Filled us up. The place is a little ghetto looking, but it was clean enough.

This place is pathetic! Worst breakfast burrito I’ve ever had. The jerks didn’t even scramble my egg, they just fried the living daylights out of it, chop-​jobbed it and rolled it up in a tortilla like a big fat turd. It was dry and repulsive, just how I’d expect to feel at 90 when no one wants to mouth me anymore.

Right across the street from where I live. Carne Asada fries are bomb. Breakfast burritos are alright. The service could be a little better. Not a bad Mexican food spot, but not the best either.

Mexcian Food! It’s big. It’s cheap. It’s filling. It’s tasty. It’s satisfying in a way that only a hole in the wall taco shop can ever hope to be. Burritos, tacos, enchiladas, and general yumminess. It’s around the corner from my house and has been the cause of many failed diet days for me. It’s just too tempting for my own good.
I love this place and was surprised at its low rating until I stopped to think about it. I suppose that if my one and only experience was at 2:00 am when it is line-​out-​the-​door crowded with all the drunk people coming over from the half-​dozen bars within stumbling distance and being served by a very (rightfully) annoyed staff and having my order take 30 minutes, then yes — i’d hate it too. But come on, is it their fault they’re swarmed by drunks every weekend? Let’s face it, Mexican food = Magic Elixir to drunk people, and considering that it’s the ONLY place in the neighborhood that is open 24 hours, swarm they will. I myself have been guilty of coming in after the bars in an ever-​so-​slightly-​not-​so-​sober state once or twice or not going to admit to how many times, and by some miracle (because it’s seriously a zoo in there at this hour) they’ve always gotten my order right and it’s usually «THE BEST THING I’VE EVER EATEN» when I get it home.
I also come by at «the normal» (read: not after drinking) times and it’s usually very good. It’s honestly one of my favorite hole-​in-​the wall taco shops in the area. It’s not healthy or gourmet — it’s big and greasy and delicious and CHEAP — just as any taco shop with a Hispanic-​male first name on their storefront should be. Their pollo asado burritos are my favorite, but I also love their rolled tacos, enchiladas, chile rellenos, and chimichangas as well.
I will say that I do not like their carne asada. I think when they are expecting a rush they pre-​make a bunch and have it ready to go in a big metal container instead of cooking it fresh to order. I don’t know if this is common or not, I don’t like taco shop carne asada (i only like the kind that we cook on the grill at home) so I can’t say if it’s any better or worse than anywhere else. I only tasted it the one time because my boyfriend ordered me the wrong thing. He did not make that mistake again. :P
But yep, I love this place. It’s 100% no-​frills simple food and no ambiance, but that’s exactly what I expect from this type of business. I’m a big fan and only wish my waistline would tolerate me eating here more often without acting up.

The one and a half star is sadly accurate.
The only reason why I would think this place is in business is likely due to location, location, location. Prime spot to attract in the drinkers and hungry patrons of this neighborhood’s strip that’s lined up with bars.
Yet, even with the consumption of the adult beverages nor the late night hungry that came after that, it still did not distort the clear reality that was: the carne asada fries here is noooo bueno.
Talk about skimpy. They should of just called them fries with a few thin pieces of meat. I had to make sure my fork landed into a piece of meat otherwise, it would of been a fry each time.
In daylight reality, I wouldn’t of willingly gone to a greasy taco shop. But for all intent and purposes, it did it’s job in getting me fed. For that I’m thankful for the late night operating hours. But the chances of me coming back are as slim as the meat that was was in those fries.

A late night in Normal Heights following an evening of drinking and Karaōke at Ould Sod warrants a visit to a sub 2 star eatery. The place is dirty and filled with a crowd of inebreated souls looking to satisfy those drunk munchies. In light of the aesthetic shortcomings, the food was not regretful. My first visit, I mowed down a Carne Asada Burrito that was actually quite flavorful and less then $ 6 dollars. Their Rolled Tacos (Taquitos to the rest of us) got a thumbs up from one of my fellow diners. I was not as pleased with my Machaca Burrito on my second visit as it lacked seasoning and no amount of red or green salsa helped bring it to life.
I suggest taking some hand wipes as as the food can get a little messy if you are not careful and access to a handwashing facility is unlikely due to the cage that seperates the staff from the intoxicated miscreants.
If you have a cast iron stomach, are suffering from the drunk munchies or just like living on the cullinary edge, Rolbertos is an acceptable late night super dive.

BECAUSE I CAN’T GIVE IT ZERO
Fuck these guys. I tried calling them 45 minutes before I wanted to show up because I was running right on time and wanted to order before walking in. I must have called 35 times and no one answered the phone, not ONCE.
So, I decide to walk over and asked the guy near the register, «how long does a burrito take» he answers, «depends what burrito you want…» To which I responded, «a California». He responds by asking another girl behind the counter the same question I asked, and all the dumb bitch can manage to muster up I’m response is, «Ai dono» (don’t speak English for «I don’t know»). I left without ordering.
I know of places that have language barriers and still cook incredible food, yet the spastic attitude of these particular employees (who should know THEIR OWN FOOD [check my card, I’m allowed] without question) would make me give this place eight or nine thoughts, including eating my dogs food bowl

Okay, I know being vegan in a non-​vegan world is confusing for a lot of people, and I realize that I can’t expect everyone to just get it, and I know that people are liable to make mistakes when it’s really late at night and they’ve been working a long shift, but goddamn it! there was more sour cream on that fucking burrito than there was burrito.

I would never eat here again, not because I didn’t like the food, but because they didn’t have –or wouldn’t allow me to use their bathroom after I finished eating. It was a quiet Sunday morning; no other customers, drunks or crazies in site so no reason to deny me access to their facility. This is just wrong and possibly illegal.

I’m ashamed to say I’ve been here. The only reason is because it’s close to where I live and it’s open late — look, I’m rationalizing it.
There are some really sketchy people who come in here and the food isn’t that great. To boot, I’ve also been harassed by some of the guys working behind the iron bars that are barricading the counter — Lucky me.
Thankfully, I’m drunk 100% of the time when I get food here and that’s really the only excuse for coming.

I call this place ghettobertos. But that’s because I used to live in this area. It’s a lot nicer these days. C’mon, they have bars on the inside of the place to protect them from swarms of drunken idiots come friday/​saturday nights.
If you can get past all of this. This place is good. Whenever i’m in the area, I make sure to visit and recommend the place to anyone in the area. Carne asada with sour cream is my favorite here.
It won’t hurt if you order in spanish and if you’re really nice, they’ll even let you use the employee rest room. shhh

There should be rules against calling your business a taco shop when you can’t even get tacos right. The fish in the tacos were fast-​food-​fine, but the rest was piled with mayo and tasteless lettuce, not tartar sauce and cabbage. Big no-​no!
Been here enough to see a pattern: when women are taking and making my order, the food comes out better. The hot sauce is nice ‘n spicy and the staff is generous with it. My friends say the carne asada burritos are «alright.» Don’t go out of your way.

Good drunk grub… shady characters inside waiting on food. Take a friend and get the rolled tacos. good stuff. carne burrito is a great choice too. cooks and staff are nice enough. it’s your standard taco shop. nothing fancy