Jalisco Taqueria

401 S King Rd, San Jose, CA 95116, United States
+1 408-923-3610
$$$ Mexican restaurant
(1596 Reviews)
Price Range $10–20

Jalisco Taqueria is a straightforward Mexican spot in San Jose known primarily for its casual, no-frills taco and burrito offerings. Located at 401 S King Rd, it draws a steady crowd, especially for late-night eats, as it stays open past midnight until 3 a.m., catering well to night owls and those craving a quick, hearty meal after hours.

The atmosphere inside is unpretentious and functional, reflective of a traditional taqueria rather than a sit-down restaurant. It’s a place you swing by when you’re hungry and want to focus on the food rather than décor or ambiance. Inside seating is available but modest, and the shared parking lot with a nearby bakery can offer limited spaces during busier times.

Jalisco’s menu keeps things simple but covers a solid range of Mexican staples. Tacos, especially carne asada and al pastor, get frequent praise for being juicy and satisfying, while the quesabirria is a notable standout, though some find it a bit on the pricey side. The tortas and burritos deliver decent flavor but lean towards more traditional, straightforward preparations—expect rice-heavy burritos and classic tortas with mayo and soft bread, which may not be to everyone’s liking.

Another draw is the variety of meats offered, from grilled pollo to cabeza and tripas, which appeals to those looking for authentic options beyond the usual taco fillings. Also worth noting are the sides like rice and beans priced affordably and a variety of fountain drinks that complement the meal.

Busy drive-thru lines highlight Jalisco Taqueria’s popularity as a convenient stop for locals. Early visits might come with longer waits due to staffing or initial service speed, but the steady flow throughout the day and late night keeps the spot lively. The salsa bar by the soda machine is a small but appreciated feature, letting diners add fresh lemon, jalapeños, and different salsas to dial up the heat or tang as they like.

This place fits best for those who want authentic Mexican street-food style tacos or a late-night snack without fuss. It’s ideal if you’re craving rich, meaty tacos or a quick bite from a local spot that’s part of the San Jose neighborhood rhythm, especially when other restaurants have closed. Regulars seem to enjoy coming back for the tacos and nachos more than the heavier items like tortas or burritos, which can vary in meat-to-filler ratio.

Highlights
Has fast service
Popular for
Popular for breakfast
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
What they serve
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Serves food
Serves late-night food
Quick bite
Serves small plates
Best for
Serves breakfast
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Has catering
Serves dessert
Has seating
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Tuesday

10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Wednesday

10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Thursday

10:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Friday

10:00 AM - 03:00 AM

Saturday

10:00 AM - 03:00 AM

Sunday

10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

1596 Reviews
Nat

19 Dec 2025

Visited on a Tuesday afternoon. The place wasn't busy, and it's nice enough inside. I ordered a chorizo taco for $3.75 and a birria torta for $9.99. Salsa, lemon, and jalapenos by the soda machine. Chorizo and birria were both great! Not a huge fan of the torta though, since it had a lot of mayo and mushy bread. I's go for tacos and nachos.

Dan Kim

16 Dec 2025

Went early when it opened and probably better to hold off a little. Not sure if they were understaffed but waited quite a while for our food and the drive through was backed up hard. Food though was fine, pricing was ok, the stand out was the quesabirria. It was great but a bit over priced.

Nicole Corona

02 Dec 2025

I ordered sopes de asada they were so good I like the fact that they don’t fry the shrimp or any seafood on the oil that they use for the sopes it’s safe to eat for people who are allergic to shrimp thank you for that !!!

Nikhil

16 Nov 2025

Always buzzing with cars in the drive-in. Even at the late nights. Have been here multiple times and was satisfied with the food every time. This time we ordered tacos, sope and burrito. We liked the tacos better, they were juicily delicious. Sope was good too. Burrito can have more meat, felt it was more rice than meat. Nachos are must have. Best thing is menu is designed to be simple. If you eat only chicken(pollo), there are two types, grilled and shredded(marinated). Note: Google/Apple Pay not accepted here.

Alejandro Carrillo

14 Oct 2025

Great place to have either tacos, tortas, burritos late at night. This place closes until 3 in the morning. Parking is limited, it's shared with a Mexican bakery (Pink Elephant).

j garcia

01 Oct 2025

One of the best dine in mexican restaurants in east san jose. I wish there were more! But this one is close enough. Do not confuse this one with one in campbell. There is no connection. My go to is carne asada and they never disappoint. The salsas are pretty good but i wish they had a dark and spicier red salsa. My wife ordered the torta and those are good too according to her. By the way they have a drive thru and they are open late!! Forget jack n the box. Come here !

Henry Martin

21 Sep 2025

This is my second time in, both times the food has been really good and the price point might actually be on the lower side “IMO” They are located in a parking lot with 10 or so other small businesses “no I didn’t count” near to the basketball courts. “across the street” The outside of the building and the building itself is nice. The inside is nice but slightly dated “no big deal” patrons walk in and know the owner by name. “Good sign” The owner makes sure you know what you’re getting when you order, I ordered a chorizo with potatoes burrito, he asked if I would like eggs and cheese on it? Me, heck yes! Wifey ordered a veggie burrito, comes with a side salad “I ate the salad, sooo good, the dressing has a sweetness to it” Wifey loved the veggie burrito, my burrito was freakin yummy, as well and when I added one of the 3 dipping sauces to it, it stepped it up a whole Nother level. Bottom line.... the inside looks dated but the food is on point and the price point left me wondering why I have not come back more often?

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