Planning a trip to Atlanta?
Foursquare can help you find the best places to go to.
The Original El Taco
(Now Closed)Mexican Restaurant and Taco Restaurant$$$$
Virginia Highland, Atlanta
The folks at Eater and AJC like this place. Would you agree?
93 Tips and reviews
Sort:
- Popular
- Recent
Solid go-to for brunch, lunch or dinner with friendly staff, great service, outdoor seating, a salsa bar, and delicious cocktails. Make sure to get a Fifth Group card to use at their different spots.
Ayesha G.August 8, 2014Finally found a taco that measures up to my Texas expectations....this place is a must try if you are looking for good Texas style tacos. The fried chicken is delicious and so is the queso & guac!!
Atlanta Food & Wine FestivalMay 7, 2014Chef Wolitzky will investigate Challah, Babka, Coffee Cake & Rugelach and how these breads and pastries symbolize great moments with family in the South at Atlanta Food & Wine Festival 5/29-6/1. Read more
Joy CameronJuly 27, 2014The smoked chicken and chorizo tacos are divine. 😍😍😍 This place makes you leaving here wanting more. The chalkboard menu has great options as well.
Short Stack and Fried Chicken tacos are solid. Specials are generally fun as well. $5 Margs on Thursday
AJCMay 13, 2015After a few spins of the wheel, and an order of queso royale, we dive into a frozen mojito. And it's just what it sounds like - rum, mint and lime, blended and served frozen.
Truly the best sangria in town. The traditional red wine and fruit juice with chunks on fresh fruit on the rocks...with a little rum for good measure! You'll love it - and you'll thank me.
TJFebruary 19, 2013Definitely try the Roasted Chicken Taco and the Home-made Chorizo Taco. Definitely two of my favorites. And the salsa is good too.
alem e.December 17, 2012...gotta try the fish taco...pork taco...hell all their tacos...even the veggie taco is good and im a meat lover so you know it has to be good...- The perfect El Taco meal: lime-salted chips with fresh guac & queso, a fried chicken taco & a pork carnitas taco, and a pitcher of the best sangria in town. You'll thank me!
Christina Whitlock DarnellMay 5, 2012The fried chicken taco is to die for. Don't forget to order chips so you can try out all of their salsas from the salsa bar.
Right after biting into a fried chicken taco, your life will flash before your eyes. Mainly because you'll wonder how you went this long in your life without this taco.
focus on the box at the top left of the menu, this is where the real gems of the menu are; the sope, crispy tamale, etc... or just grab the short stack, you can't go wrong with that.
Andrea ClevengerJune 6, 2015Don't forget to hit up the salsa bar! The Demonic mango, habanero salsa is legit! Flavorful and spicy!!
Sam LackFebruary 14, 2019The white chicken chili (on special) was good, and the fried chicken taco delicious! Great variety of salsas.- TJFebruary 19, 2013I can't remember what type of margarita this is, but it's not the house nor the Texas one. It's a lot stronger. I think Aguva or whatever is in it. All I know is I like it.
- Off menu spicy margarita called the El-apeño is the move.
I love El Taco and have eaten here many times. If you are looking for something different, check out D.B.A. BBQ next door. They have great BBQ and great service. A must in Virginia Highlands! Read more
Great guacamole here - I dare say some of the best in Atlanta. Chips are solid however recently the tasty seasoning on the chips has been missing. Bring it back! Hopefully it was just temporary.
TV Food MapsOctober 7, 2015Check out The Original El Taco as it was featured on Taco Trip for Mexican and southern fusion. Read more
Chad ElkinsApril 14, 2011Have you ever eaten cactus? Yes...cactus! The veggie taco is one of my favorites in town and contains this unique and delicious ingredient.
Wide variety of tasty margaritas and tequilas. Thumbs up on Mexican pizza.
Oakland CemeteryNovember 4, 2010Crave from the Grave: Can't resist getting the fried chicken, Mexican chorizo, and pork carnitas tacos...and washing it all down with a real Mexican Coke float!
Danny, Wes, et al will steer you straight with a salsa trio & jalapeño margarita! Don't miss out...
Be here on the hour when they spin the Wheel of Taco 🌮
Elle GreenMay 11, 2015The food was "meh" to me.They didn't have the tequila I wanted.The waiter kept rushing us to order & they forget to give us our "wheel" tickets. I liked that they put radishes in our guacamole though.
Atlanta on the CheapJune 2, 2011Check in on Sat/Sun from 11:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., & you'll get a free house margarita. (starts at 12:30 p.m. on Sundays)
The fried chicken taco is fantastic, but the smoked chicken is a good sleeper pick.
Definitely try the new BLTaco. The Red Fish taco is not to shabby either.
The sangria and classic trio is the perfect fix for a long day.
Fried chicken tacos and fried fish tacos. Fried deliciousness.
Julie JEWELeSJune 22, 2012Try the Caipirinha, Different Salsas, & Chips - Watching the #NBAFINALS & grubbing!
- TylerJune 16, 2010It's hard to make chips and salsa this amazing, but they do it. (it's the mix of lime salt, smokey salsa, and meth, I think...)
Brian HewittFebruary 17, 2013Hot with the toddler crowd. (Seriously, how many under 3 year old kids are there in here right now?)
200 Photos
Foursquare © 2025 Lovingly made in NYC, CHI, SEA & LA
The Original El Taco
1186 N Highland Ave NE (Amsterdam Avenue)
Atlanta, GA 30306
United States
Atlanta, GA 30306
United States
El Taco is a festive, fun place for friends and families to enjoy simple and fresh Mexican food made with all-natural ingredients.
Permanently closed (Show more)
- Tue–Thu
- 5:00 PM–8:30 PM
- Fri
- 5:00 PM–10:00 PM
- Sat
- 11:30 AM–10:00 PM
- Sun
- 11:30 AM–8:30 PM
(404) 873-4656
Features
Reservations
Yes
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. Discover & Visa)
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Food & Drink
Menus
Brunch, Dinner
Drinks
Wine
See More
You might also like
- 8.1
"Lunch or dinner you can't go wrong! The owner and staff are out of this world. The prices are good. But the margaritas are awesome!"
Kenneth Kwame Welsh - 8.9
"My granddaughter had the corn pancakes with strawberry syrup for brunch. They are GREAT!"
Pops - 8.6
"The pork belly taco is delicious but so is the carnitas, short rib and fish tacos :)"
Adam Gambrel
Appears on 101 lists
Created by Taste of Atlanta
61 items • 219 followers
Created by This Is My South
66 items • 72 followers
Created by Kim
200 items • 288 followers