Maria Elena's Taquería

Maria Elena's Taqueria: Alviso, Bay Area

If you like mexican food, and live in the Bay Area .. you gotta visit this place. Maria Elena's Taqueria is a BIG place in Alviso .. right where the bay starts. It looks like a small, run-down kind of place from outside .. but once you enter only then do you really get the feel of the place. This taqueria is huge .. with wings on both sides of the entrance .. easily seating more than a 100 people. Being quite far from the the usual techie-centric places (ever heard anyone go to Alviso for lunch?), its still full during lunch hour. The food is as mexican as it can get .. with medium portions.

Seating is plentiful and well spaced. Ambiance is .. well lets call it unadorned. [When I went there and entire outer wall of our wing was made of brown paper stuck on the wooden structure]. Service is fast and friendly, the salsa is fresh and tasty. Food is good .. I had the fish tacos .. though the waitress did not understand my request to have the fish grilled instead of fried .. I admit they tasted pretty damn good. The sour cream was heavenly. Enchiladas and the Santa Fe chicken salad looked good too. Should be a good place for big groups .. just make sure you reach there before the lunch crowd.

Food: **** Ambiance: * Price: $$
Last visited: mid 2008