The Original El Taco

Name: The Original El Taco
Address: 1186 N Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA, United States, 30306
Telephone: (404) 873-4656
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.6

4.6

150 Reviews

$30 and under

Tex-Mex

Top Tags:

The Original El Taco is now opened on Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday from 5-8:30pm, Sat-Sun lunch 11:30a-4pm and Friday-Saturday from 5-10pm. We offer a full complimentary menu for dine in and take out and family style ready to eat meals for take out. We also offer items for kids. To place your order, please contact the restaurant at 404.873.4656 after 3 pm. You can access the menus on our website: eltaco-atlanta.com/menus for online ordering as well.

**Thank you for providing a credit card to secure your reservation for parties of 6 and more. No charge will be applied to your card UNLESS your party fails to honor the reservation. If you can’t honor your reservation, please cancel or modify your reservation at least 4 hours prior to your seating time. Failure to do so will result in a charge of $25.00 per guest. Thank you.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 16, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 PM

Booked 14 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(404) 873-4656

Delivery

Order online

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Tex-Mex, Mexican
Hours of operation
Lunch
Sat 11:30 am–4:00 pm
Dinner
Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Sun 12:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(404) 873-4656
Website
https://www.eltaco-atlanta.com/
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Alejandro Carbajal-Luna
Private party facilities
We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.
Private party contact
Althea Burnett: (833) 331-2529

Location
1186 N Highland Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30306
Neighborhood
Virginia Highland
Parking details
Public Lot
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Takeout, Wine

Featured in

The Best Mexican Restaurants in Atlanta

Popular dishes

El Short Stack$8.00
corn tortillas, black beans, red and green sauces, Mexican cheeses, sunny-side up egg
- With Pork Carnitas$12.00
Salt Cod Fritters$7.00
Potato, Chipotle Honey, Cotija Cheese, Chives
Tinga Quesadilla$9.00
chipotle stewed chicken, corn poblano crema
Combo Especial$22.00
choose 1 enchilada with sauce, 1 taco, tinga sope, season veg, rice, pickled roasted peppers
Hangar Steak Pinchos$9.00
arugula, red chimichurri, lime

Sizzling Fajitas

Monterey Jack cheese, charred jalapeno, crema and hot flour tortillas

Chicken$15.00
Steak$16.00
Chorizo$14.00
Shrimp$17.00
Combine any Two$16.00

Enchiladas

choose a sauce: Oklahoma beef chili, green chili, mole or red chili

Chicken and Corn$9.00
Three-Cheese and Poblano$9.00
Short Rib$13.00
Black Bean and Rice$8.00

Soup & Salad

Posole$7.00
chicken, hominy, peppers, avocado
Grande House Salad$7.00
romaine, tomato, corn relish, black bean salad, pickled onion, queso fresco, tortilla strips
- With Smoked Chicken or Seasoned Beef$11.00
- With Steak or Shrimp$12.00

Tacos

Fried Chicken$4.00
Mexico City grilled corn, chili mayo, cotija cheese, cilantro
Smoked Chicken$4.00
guacamole, crema, fried jalapenos, cilantro
Steak$4.50
tomatillo salsa, crispy onions
Chorizo$4.00
potato, poblanos, arbol sauce
Fried Fish$4.50
caper mayo, pickled chiles
Pork Cheek$4.00
pickled purple slaw, creamy cotija
Pork Carnitas$4.00
chili sauce, pineapple, slaw, corn tortilla
Mushroom$4.50
arugula, tomato, queso, cilantro, corn tortilla
Taco Platter$22.00
Pick 5 Tacos + Side of Rice and Beans
Chalkboard Special Taco (Seasonal)
- MP

Sides

Mexico City Grilled Corn$3.00
Refried Black Beans$3.00
Cowboy Pot Beans$3.00
Grilled Scallions$3.00
Rice and Beans$3.00
Oklahoma Beef Chili$3.00

Add Ons

Guacamole$3.00
Sour Cream$1.00
Queso Blanco$3.00
Sliced Avocado$3.00
Sunny-Side Up Egg$3.00
Tortillas (3)$3.00
Extra Salad Dressing$1.00
Lettuce and Tomato$1.00
Chef Pickled Veggies$1.00
Spicy Pickled Veggies$1.00
Lime Slaw$1.00
Marinated Cabbage$1.00
Cheese$1.00
Monterey Jack, Chihuahua cotija, queso fresco
Jalapenos$1.00
pickled, fried, fresh or grilled

Desserts (Available Lunch and Dinner)

Churro To Go$2.50
cinnamon sugar
Fried Apple Pie$5.00
dulce de leche and cinnamon ice cream
Flan de Coco$5.00
coconut macaroon, passion fruit
Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich$5.00
homemade chocolate cookies, vanilla bean crema
Mexican Coke Float$5.00
vanilla ice cream
Greenwood Ice Cream$1.50
vanilla or cinnamon

Dessert

Want it to go? No problemo! Simply call 404.873.4656 to place your order and we'll have it ready and waiting for pick up. A 5% packaging fee applies. Celebrating and want to bring your own dessert? No problem! We charge a flat, $20 service fee that includes cake cutting and serving to your guests

Assorted Cookies
Strawberry Jell-O
Vanilla Ice Cream
Cinnamon Ice Cream
Strawberry Yogurt Drink

What 150 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.6Service
4.4Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Atlanta / Georgia
Neighborhood Gem
Atlanta
Kid Friendly
Atlanta
Neighborhood Gem

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Filters

OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 6, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience3
Cinco de Mayo! It was packed as expected but the reservation times weren’t honored because people didn’t leave from their tables. The food was good
S
Sonya
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 5, 2022
overall4food2service2ambience4
Do not like that all parties must be present to be seated with 95 % of the party is there. Based upon location someone will be stuck in traffic missing 1 person shouldn't cause you not be seated. This was tacky to me. The food was not good it was 10 of us no one finished their food.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Cinco de Mayo was a great vibe here
RP
RogerP
Atlanta
27 reviews
vip
5.0
27 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best fajitas in Atlanta. Unique salad options everything was delicious
BC
BenCATL
Atlanta
7 reviews
vip
3.0
7 reviews
Dined on April 24, 2022
overall3food2service2ambience4
Great neighborhood mainstay but suffering from its longevity. The consistency of the food and service has really dropped off over the years. We still go because our kids love it, but every time we're there something is just "off" enough to impact the experience. If it's your first time, or two or three, you probably don't have expectations so give it a try.
CG
CGTracy
Chicago
110 reviews
vip
5.0
110 reviews
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience4
They do a great job here. Manager Randy super helpful. Tasty food. Would go back anytime. Great margaritas.
JD
JenniferD
Atlanta
29 reviews
vip
5.0
29 reviews
Dined on April 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We loved the enchiladas (I had chicken and my husband had beef) as well as the queso and margaritas. Great low key but tasty Saturday night ☺️
OT
OpenTable Diner
Birmingham
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Kristen is the absolute best!!! We always come here when visiting from Birmingham. Get the fried chicken tacos and Texas margarita.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlanta
24 reviews
vip
5.0
24 reviews
Dined on April 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great for a casual meal
VT
VolkanTopalli
Atlanta
42 reviews
vip
3.0
42 reviews
Dined on April 1, 2022
overall3food3service5ambience4
The service was excellent and friendly. The food was good but not as excellent as a couple years ago. Steak fajitas had little or no seasoning. Steak taco was average. Baja shrimp taco was very good. The skinny margarita was very watered down. Might need a bit more mix.
RJ
ReneeJ
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 27, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
The food was amazing! From the appetizer to the tacos! Some of the best!
JD
JenniferD
Atlanta
29 reviews
vip
5.0
29 reviews
Dined on March 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
I had the chicken and my husband had the beef enchiladas, which we both enjoyed, along with the delicious queso royale. We sat at the bar and had great service!
RS
ReganS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 24, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
They were very accommodating with our large group and provided great service. Food and drinks were great!
CO
CourtneyO
Atlanta
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 21, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience4
The food was amazing and the staff was very accommodating when we had a few more guests show up as a surprise for my husband for his birthday. It was really an enjoyable experience!
B
Brina
New York Area
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on February 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, drinks and service as always. It is definitely becoming my go to place.
JD
JenniferD
Atlanta
29 reviews
vip
5.0
29 reviews
Dined on February 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fabulous food and great service. Quesadillas were flavorful, cheesy & delicious- great spices! My husband enjoyed his beef enchiladas, and as always, the queso was addictively good ☺️
C
Carter
Austin
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on February 23, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
Food and service was solid. It was EXTREMELY loud, but it was national margarita day so that could be a factor. It's in a great spot in Virginia Highlands and I'll definitely be back to see if it's a little bit quieter on a normal night.
JW
JenniferW
Atlanta
2 reviews
vip
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 20, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience3
Lots of different tequilas to try. Great service and food. Free parking on site a huge plus. A little too loud, but overall a good experience. I would go back for sure.
PB
PaulB
Atlanta
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on February 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great meal and service - good casual atmosphere. Always a positive experience.
BD
BenDover
Atlanta
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful experience. The staff was
RR
RevRob
Atlanta
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great food. Great service. (The guac was excellent!)
D
Doug
Atlanta
49 reviews
vip
5.0
49 reviews
Dined on January 27, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Another enjoyable time at ET! Service was very good from a new server. She said she was “training” but she delivered like a seasoned pro! Made it all effortless. The nachos (build your own) filled the bill and the Thursday nite $5 margaritas were fine as always!!
JK
JennK
Caribbean
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 26, 2022
overall3food3service4ambience3
Friendly and attentive staff. Good food for the price, a family, or large party. It can be a loud environment so don't go expecting quiet. They give out tokens and spin the wheel for freebies. The margaritas are great. I always go for the skinny. Throughout the year, they have various events, which are fun. Nacho night is every Thursday. The patio is currently heated for the winter. They are a part of the Fifth Group Restaurants. If you have a membership card, don't forget your points! Can you say, "tacos"!
L
Legaleagle1
Atlanta
25 reviews
vip
5.0
25 reviews
Dined on January 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always a good experience. Always happy with the taste and amount of food. Very friendly servers.
JD
JenniferD
Atlanta
29 reviews
vip
5.0
29 reviews
Dined on January 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic service and a delicious evening. My husband always loves the steak, and I had the fajitas this time, which were wonderful. I'm also a fan of the enchiladas and quesadillas. Of course, the queso royale is must as well. Thanks for a great Saturday night!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlanta
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful waitress and food!
CP
CP1967
Atlanta
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on January 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always visit when in Atlanta. Great food, recommend the Chicken Tinga Quesadilla. It the fabulous!!!!! Looking forward to our next visit.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on January 13, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
Good food good atmosphere a great service would go back
EJ
EmilyJ
New York Area
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on January 10, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience4
This is such a great neighborhood place! Great for meeting up with friends or going with family. They are very kid-friendly, but also have a great bar area and drink choices. I highly recommend the skinny margarita! :-)
MC
MattC
Atlanta
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and a great time with friends and kids.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 3, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
This was the best Mexican food I could have ever imagined.
L
Legaleagle1
Atlanta
25 reviews
vip
5.0
25 reviews
Dined on January 3, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
El Taco is always good. The salsa and queso are the best! Love the eggplant tacos but they could add a little more spice to it. Overall flavorful.
KW
KenW
Atlanta
14 reviews
vip
3.0
14 reviews
Dined on December 23, 2021
overall3food3service5ambience4
I haven’t been in years. We really liked it when we ate there pre-COVID, but this time was disappointing The meal felt overpriced. I enjoyed the salsa but the chicken quesadilla was greasy. Also, my wife’s tacos were too spicy for her. I liked them but she can’t handle much heat. The menu may have said it had some heat but we didn’t see the note.
D
Doug
Atlanta
49 reviews
vip
5.0
49 reviews
Dined on December 19, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
El Taco never fails to please. From the friendly welcome, to super margaritas and attentive service, and then always delicious food, all in a comfortable atmosphere, it is the neighborhood “go to”. A special shout out to Eddie, the manager who keeps it running smoothly, and Kristen, one of the best servers anywhere anytime. All good! Ww’ll be back soon.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Denver
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on December 15, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Awesome margaritas and a fun environment! The tacos were great too.
GZ
GregZ
Atlanta
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 5, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Simply the best overall service around!!! Kristen is fabulous!!!
EF
ElizabethF1963
Atlanta
52 reviews
vip
2.0
52 reviews
Dined on November 23, 2021
overall2food2service2ambience3
Very underwhelmed - no white wine? Service felt rushed and food average - not what I remember.
K
Kseniyab
Atlanta
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 21, 2021
overall3food5service2ambience4
I used to love this local place. Unfortunately, service was very slow. Food was good. I missed Mexican pizza. Probably not coming back.
MM
MichaelMidtown
Atlanta
1 review
vip
3.0
1 review
Dined on November 11, 2021
overall3food4service4ambience3
This restaurant is very cheap with measuring alcoholic drinks. Even worse, the bar serves pre-made drinks from a plastic container!
FW
FrankW
Atlanta
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 2, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service - attentive, friendly waiter. Food was delicious.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from The Original El Taco using the Order Online button. The Original El Taco also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (404) 873-4656.

The Original El Taco is rated 4.6 stars by 150 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 16, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 PM

Booked 14 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(404) 873-4656

Delivery

Order online

1186 N Highland Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30306

Dining areas

Additional information

Neighborhood
Virginia Highland
Hours of operation
Lunch
Sat 11:30 am–4:00 pm
Dinner
Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Sun 12:00 pm–9:00 pm
Cuisines
Tex-Mex, Mexican
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Public Lot
Executive chef
Alejandro Carbajal-Luna
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Takeout, Wine

Website
https://www.eltaco-atlanta.com/
Phone number
(404) 873-4656
Private party facilities
We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.
Private party contact
Althea Burnett: (833) 331-2529

Featured in

The Best Mexican Restaurants in Atlanta

The Original El Taco

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Delivery

Dining areas

Additional information

The Best Mexican Restaurants in Atlanta

Steak

Pint of Queso Royale

Fried Chicken

Tastes for Lunch and Dinner

House Salsa$3.00

Guacamole$8.00

Queso Blanco$6.00

Queso Royale$8.00

Classic Tastes Trio$15.00

Queso Royale Trio$17.00

Mexican Pizza

The Original Veggie$12.00

House Specialities

El Short Stack$8.00

Salt Cod Fritters$7.00

Tinga Quesadilla$9.00

Combo Especial$22.00

Hangar Steak Pinchos$9.00

Sizzling Fajitas

Chicken$15.00

Steak$16.00

Chorizo$14.00

Shrimp$17.00

Combine any Two$16.00

Enchiladas

Chicken and Corn$9.00

Three-Cheese and Poblano$9.00

Short Rib$13.00

Black Bean and Rice$8.00

Soup & Salad

Posole$7.00

Grande House Salad$7.00

Tacos

Fried Chicken$4.00

Smoked Chicken$4.00

Steak$4.50

Chorizo$4.00

Fried Fish$4.50

Pork Cheek$4.00

Pork Carnitas$4.00

Mushroom$4.50

Taco Platter$22.00

Chalkboard Special Taco (Seasonal)

Sides

Mexico City Grilled Corn$3.00

Refried Black Beans$3.00

Cowboy Pot Beans$3.00

Grilled Scallions$3.00

Rice and Beans$3.00

Oklahoma Beef Chili$3.00

Add Ons

Guacamole$3.00

Sour Cream$1.00

Queso Blanco$3.00

Sliced Avocado$3.00

Sunny-Side Up Egg$3.00

Tortillas (3)$3.00

Extra Salad Dressing$1.00

Lettuce and Tomato$1.00

Chef Pickled Veggies$1.00

Spicy Pickled Veggies$1.00

Lime Slaw$1.00

Marinated Cabbage$1.00

Cheese$1.00

Jalapenos$1.00

Desserts (Available Lunch and Dinner)

Churro To Go$2.50

Fried Apple Pie$5.00

Flan de Coco$5.00

Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich$5.00

Mexican Coke Float$5.00

Greenwood Ice Cream$1.50