Taco Norteño

Taco Norteño’s tacos are awesome, perfectly seasoned, and so inexpensive, but the true highlight for me is the small salsa bar that’s the centerpiece of the restaurant. I have a pretty (really) low spice tolerance, so I love that I’m able to mix a few of them together to make the perfect slightly-​chunky, fully-​flavorful combination that makes my taste buds sing. The tacos are served with meat only in them, and you can go to the salsa bar to add any additions you’d like – from an avocado cream sauce to grilled onions, the little salsa bar takes care of you.
Taco Norteño isn’t anything fancy – you order at a counter, get served unlimited chips in little servings, and settle in at one of the little tables the restaurant is filled with. It also isn’t the tex-​mex restaurant that’s characterized by huge margaritas and loud mariachi music. No, Taco Norteño is what it is – an authentic Mexican food experience at an inexpensive price point.
Taco Norteño isn’t the place that I’d choose for a nice date night, but it’s certainly the place to go when for a quick, laid back Mexican food fix.

I had originally set out to have lunch at another place that had shut down, so I pulled out my GPS to find another close food place. I saw that the reviews on this place were great and figured it was worth trying. I ordered two soft steak tacos. I absolutely LOVED the salsa bar! I was able to load my tacos up with pico de gallo, cilantro, tomatillo sauce, sour cream, and lettuce. Every ingredient on my tacos tasted fresh and delicious. I will go back without a doubt. I would have given it five stars except that I didn’t like how they haven’t fixed their menus-​they show the price of the tacos as $ 1.80 each when they actually charge $ 2 apiece for them. Still a good deal, but I feel they should be advertised correctly.

If you’re on the fence of whether to go here or not, don’t be. Just go! A friend took me here and told me that it would be the best tacos I’ve had. He wasn’t kidding. You know it’s authentic when you walk in and you’re the only Gringo in there, and when you can’t get cheese on your taco!
I ordered hard shell tacos, which run about $ 1.80 each. So cheap! I got carnitas and man were they flavorful and tender! Also, these have got to be the best hard shells, because even when sitting in all the juices for 10 – 15 minutes, they’re still hard and don’t get soggy or fall apart!
When they bring the tacos out to you, it’s your job to go to the salsa bar in the middle of the restaurant and put your toppings on, which range from salsa, tomatoes, lettuce, cilantro, onions, etc. I opted for tomatoes, cilantro and salsa. So awesome!
The salsa bar is one of the best parts of this place. You have to be quick though, because the green avocado sauce, which is basically a creamy guacamole, goes fast! And there’s definitely a reason why, because that stuff is addicting! So delicious! My friend let me in on his secret sauce of choice and it was really, really good. Get some of the avocado sauce and put the mild enchilada on top, and BOOM, you’ve got a flavor explosion! I put that on everything! They also have chips in the back, which are unlimited!
Even though this place is about a 25 – 30 minute drive for me, I am definitely going back. A lot.

Flavor is amazing!!! Love to stop by for a quick bite! Salsas are amazing, if you like real food in a relaxed not fancy environment this is the place!!!

Finally, I found authentic Mexican food in Orlando area. As soon as I walked in, I felt at home. I moved to Orlando nearly a year ago from LA and got hint about this place. It was a 20 minute drive to get there from the Dr Phillips area but after not having my normally bi-​weekly authentic mex fix, I was pleasantly surprised. Here is what I recommend as its not perfect but close… order the soft tacos with flour tortillas, the hard shell was not good… I also had a carne asada burrito and it was awesome but it comes with a nacho cheese spread without asking for it… the burrito doesn’t need it nor imo should it have it… nonetheless it was still good… the salsa bar has something for everyone… the Green sauces were the best. there self serving chips could be better but I liked how you could help yourself to them… everything felt authentic but the hard shells and tortilla chips. if they changed those two things I would have given them 5 stars. Great service with great food… NOW, why aren’t there more of these in Orlando. someone could get RICH! Maybe this will be my next business venture… who’s in?

It’s loud and lively. You will hear the sizzle coming out from the kitchen and all the drama from the novela being played. The place is decorated with flags, maps and pictures of pretty landscapes.
The food is excellent. I ordered three different tacos. The meal was well-​seasoned. There is a salsa bar with all the condiments you need right in the middle. I wasn’t adventurous. I stick to the salsas I know, but that is because I do not like spice.
They’re open since 6 a.m. I can’t wait to try them out for breakfast.

What difference does the taste of the food make, even if it is pretty good, when the restaurant is FILTHY?
The salsa cart has old crusty stains running down it and dust packed in every crevice. There is no way the chip warmer was cleaned in the last week, the caked on chip debris in the door hinge is proof. The WHITE chair molding is dark BROWN from the top. The bathroom walls have streaks of dirt and leaky stained ceiling tiles.
Then, I peaked in the kitchen as I walked by and it all made sense why my chicken enchiladas are served in a little puddle of grease. I see a huge fryer full of chicken submerged in lard on the floor. Sitting on the FLOOR.
Friends who like Mexican food, don’t be fooled by the other reviews or the low prices. Save yourselves the future stomachache and go elsewhere.

u simply cannot beat Tacos Norteño. Five star authentic tacos, killer salsa bar, attentive and relatively cute staff. Help yourself to some chips and it’s lit.

Mexican food has always been my favorite food. But this little place really blew my mind away. As soon as I entered, I thought I’ll just get a light salad since I saw a little island filled with lettuce, olives and sauces. When i told her that I just wanna order the salad bar, she laughed and told me that it’s a Free salsa bar.
I’ve never been to any Mexican resto where you can get a free salsa bar. I’m a true salsa fan, so I tried everything from guacamole, pico de gallo, grilled onion, salsa picante and many more! I ordered the Mexico City taco which is a combination of taco with steak, chicken and pork. They are absolutely flavorful and guarantee will fill you up. You can fill as many lettuce, tomato, onion and everything else from the salsa bar to build your own taco. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE!

Best Mexican food i’ve had in Orlando!
Totally recommend getting tacos al pastor and carne asada. If you’re in Orlando, you should definitely stop by!

My cousin suggested that in between dance sessions at the powwow at the fairgrounds that we’d run up Colonial to this place to get Mexican. Sounded good to me since I hadn’t had any Mexican in a while and I trusted his opinion. So we piled in his car and took off.
The entrance was odd, just as he described. You have to go through the bus parking lot entrance to the place and walk up a ramp.
You can’t miss the menu when you first walk in. This place will meet your Mexican needs and the prices were exceptional. I had not tried lengua (tongue) before so I decided on 3 tacos: 2 barbacoa and 1 lengua. When I went up to the counter to order, I found out that they had no lengua. I was bummed so I just ordered 3 barbacoa tacos. I figured if the barbacoa was good, everything is good.
They have a salsa/​condiment bar in the middle of the restaurant with pico de gallo, cilantro, onions. red and green salsas, etc. I think I tried them all except for the ones that were labeled HOT because I was a wimp.
Service was pretty good and the staff were very friendly. My tacos came out before my cousin and my other friends’ food. I dunno how that happened. I decided to eat it as is before I added in condiments to it. OMG! That is the best barbacoa I’ve EVER had! I wanted to eat it plain but there’s unwritten rules about eating tacos that everyone must follow and I wasn’t wanting to be rebellious. So good. My cousin was completely right about this place. I will definitely make a return trip.

This place is the real deal .
Chiptole is #1 but they are
Pretty good. Lots of parking
And priced right.

Was suggested to try this place out — overall wasn’t too bad. When you first drive by, it looks like an abandon place and a little sketchy.
The food was decent — steak tacos have great flavor and the meat is cooked perfectly. Tortillas tasted hand made and are put on a flat top grill to crisp them up a bit. Chicken tacos were good as well — meat was nicely cooked.
The flautas were okay — the shredded chicken lacked flavor. The chicken quesadilla was excellent! Hearty and filled with lots of chicken and cheese.
I’m not a fan of the salsa bar (mainly because when things are served buffet style it opens up to contamination) many of the taco toppings (as tacos come with just meat) looked wilted and old. The salsa overall wasn’t bad but no cheese for the tacos.
Ordered a margarita — was horrible. It was all the mix and no liquor. Couldn’t even finish it as it was too sweet. Next time will stick to beer.

THE BEST AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD!
The food here is just absolutely divine! The food comes out pretty fast and free, fresh chips!
Right when you walk in the aroma will get you set to order everything. Smells divine! The menu is the first thing you see and the prices are cheap and you get SO much for your money’s worth. Everything is homemade and fresh.
I usually order 2 carne asada taco’s and a chicken sopes. Note, the sope is HUGE. One will do, I ordered 2 before and barely touched the 2^nd one. The carne asada, the marinade and how they cook it is so freaking good! I could just eat that alone. You can either choose to have it on a corn tortilla or flour. The corn tortilla are the smaller ones and the flour one’s will come out in the bigger size. Both are good. As for the sopes, it’s a thick corn tortilla that is shaped like a plate and is hollow in the middle. The bottom layer is beans, then your choice of meat, lettuce, and cheese. Writing this is making me want it now!
To add a little spice to your food, there is a salsa bar and I’m glad they labeled the different types of sauces from mild to hot. I took guesses in some of the sauces and the green ones were definitely HOT. Whew. They also have crema, sautéed onions, lettuce, onions, cilantro, limes and some other things that I forgot. But I believe that’s about it.
After eating all that goodness, order the Melon juice or the Horchata (rice milk) drink. A good ending to the meal! Seriously this place is so good and legit!

15 check ins, since I started using Unilocal, and I am yet to leave a review for this place!!! What is wrong with me???
Taco Norteno, previously known as Taco Palenque is, so far, as close to authentic as you can find in Orlando without paying outrageous prices.
My personal favorite is their steak tortas, seasoned steak served in tortas bread with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, jalapeño and mayonnaise, I omit the last two ingredients off mine. One is good but I sometimes order two of them if I am super hungry.
Their quesadillas, tortas, nachos and tacos are Great as well, I have to try their chimichanga next time to see how it compares to «San Jose’s» version.
I believe that they open as early as 6am and I occasionally stop in for their egg and cheese tacos, which aren’t bad for a quick grab and go, my favorite breakfast tacos hands down are from «chachos» located in Houston, Texas, simply the best!!!
I wish the owners of this plaza pay some special attention to the structure of this center and give it a major and much needed face lift, every time I make it to the parking lot I feel like I am playing dodge ball with the giant pot holes on the road.

I came for lunch today and I felt compelled to quickly post a review since our food was so good. The quality and authenticity of the tacos here is clearly above Chipotle and whatever other Mexican restaurant I’ve been to in the area.
We had a 3-​taco platter which also came with rice and beans, and their Mexico City tacos which was a platter of 5 tacos. Complimentary chips are available as well as a large salsa/​toppings bar for those who dine in; I suggest you take full advantage since they have a great selection of salsas with varying spice levels. In addition to the salsas, they have numerous available toppings such as sautéed onions, jalapeños, pico, peppers and sour cream; I’d go easy with the toppings since you’d only be covering the great taste from the meat within the tacos. Every single taco was simply delicious and offered exactly what we were looking for; a variety of grilled meats wrapped up inside a warm tortilla.
The service was very friendly; they’d walk around to ensure we were ok and enjoying our meals.
If you’re looking for a fancy restaurant then I’d stay away, but if you’re truly looking for simplicity in your dining experience, then I’d give this place a shot.

Holy Tortillas Batman!
Taco Norteño makes me want to learn Spanish and move south across the border. This. Place. Is. Incredible.
There are about 12 different types of salsa, all you can eat free chips, super cheap prices, generous portion sizes, and delicious authentic Mexican food.
Can’t ask for more than that!

I have a friend from Mexico who’s been telling me to try this place out and I don’t know what took me so long! Chipotle who?
Went here early for Cinco De Mayo and everything was fantastic. They didn’t have a lot of holiday specials but the food far made up for it. The menu is vast from tacos, to enchiladas, to chimichangas, to taco piratas. Can’t make up your mind? They have combos with Tacos and quesadillas, or tacos with beans and rice.
The best part about the restaurant is the salsa bar! Items like tacos come to you plain and you get to pile on all the lettuce, pico, onions and sour cream you want! They have over 6 different salsas and deliver chips to your table while you wait for food! The have margaritas, aquas frescas, and beer!
The restaurant isn’t super large (maybe 10 tables?) but kinda makes the place that more enjoyable. Already looking for a reason to drive back to that side of town!

I don’t always give 5 stars… but when i do it’s places like this.
(insert most interesting man meme pic here)
This is one of the best, if not THE best place to get authentic Mexican tacos in Central Florida area! And i’ve been looking for a while! Thank you Melissa S. for telling me about this place! Everything is homemade and definitely has an authentic vibe to the place.
There are a couple of notable taco joints that i’ve been going to that has satisfied my taco cravings, but what sets this place apart is the way they grill the meats! The flat top must be scorching cause the meats are seared just right while still keeping it moist and tender. Also everything is house made! The flour or corn tortillas, the sopes crust thingy, the chips, and the beautiful salsa bar! (WARNING: not all green sauces are the same! One is like straight up blended jalapenos, seeds and all Muy caliente!)
I judge all my taco places by their carne asada tacos and Taco Norteno does not disappoint. Meat is perfect! I prefer it with the flour tortilla and keeping it classic with onions, cilantro, crema, and a bit of the darker red sauce from the salsa bar (looks like roasted red peppers– smokey, not too hot). Pair that with some house made-​chips dipped in their salsa fresca and beer or margarita… oh man! Instantly transported to Mexico… without the pounding tequila hangover!
This place is legit! Thank you Melissa S. for telling me about it… and for messing up my new year’s resolution to low-​carb!

In the mood for real Mexican food, I headed to Taco Norteno and it was a wise choice. This is a small family owned restaurant off West Colonial in Winter Garden. If you look away, you will miss it so keep an eye out right after you pass under the 429. The menu is placed at the entrance as you walk in. I ordered from the desk and sat down at one of the few tables inside. I was immediately served fresh tortilla chips and I walked over to the fresh salad bar and concocted my own salsa.
I ordered 2 steak tacos and 1 chicken taco and they were served on a homemade light tortilla. I chose from the many fresh ingredients at the salad bar and topped off my tacos and in less than 5 minutes, my food was gone. The steak and the chicken were cooked perfectly so I have no complaints.
The prices do not get any cheaper, $ 1.75 for a homemade taco is as good as it gets. The interior is very clean and the waitstaff is readily available if you need anything. I am anxious to go back and try some of their other selctions.

Okay time to up the anti.
This is the place for that Mexican fix. (In my most humble gringo opinion. What has tipped the scales?
SOPAs man. Chorizo is the other word. OMG. That corn bowl is so flavorful and solid enough to get all that spicy, cheesy goodness to the Olé taco holela’ with one hand. Even when it’s too hot to handle.
Make the trip to our own special niche of meh hee coe! You will find delight in Wintergarden!