Corona Tacos

Reviewed on October 23, 2009

It has all the appeal of a drunken uncle's party.

Corona Tacos has been a staple in the Yuma taco scene for at least 5 years. As this was going to be our first "official" review, we knew we needed to do it right.

Our arrival and initial thoughts

As we arrived, one of the first things we noticed was the price. A huge sign proclaims to everyone that the tacos are only $1, which is a great price since it seems that tacos have gone up to about $1.50. We sit at a 6 foot long particle board table. Immediately we get offered free beans, always a good sign. We ordered cabeza, pastor and asada tacos, and a large horchata to drink. The waitress told us that they offered tripas and carnitas on Fridays and Saturdays. This place is slightly different than most taco stands with all of the condiments located in a central location. You can't bring it to your table, but you can load up on everything you want.

The horchata was a standard powdered mix, but it seemed to be one of the better mixes. The condiments had all of the usual items, with the addition of grilled white onions, which is different for a taco stand. The guacamole was tasteless and kept lukewarm or room temperature. It could use some refrigeration. The salsas offered were also tasteless, and did not need to be added to the tacos, since it was similar to adding sawdust. The beans were good, but inconsistent, since we had eaten here before and were accustomed to the mediocrity of the beans. The atmosphere was nice, with Bob Marley playing in the background. It was semi-dark, and not well lit with old benches and seats, some dilapidated. It had the appearance of a neglected outdoor "Regal Beagle" from Three's Company. I could feel the meth heads staring out at me from the void of the old abandoned house next door.

The Food

The asada was dry, but not too bad with a nice grilled taste. It definitely is lacking something in the flavor department. The asada can not be eaten without condiments and a generous sprinkle of salt.

The pastor was disappointing. Salt is definitely needed, and condiments were of no help. It looks and smells great, and is very tender. Unfortunately, it has no flavor whatsoever. It is very uninspired and should be avoided. I'd rather eat shoe leather soaked in rubbing alcohol.

The cabeza was plain tasting, moist and unmemorable. It needs to be fixed up to enjoy it and make up for the severe lack of taste. There isn't anything really that can be said about this. Overall, a bad choice.

Conclusion

It is a semi-busy place and with not much of a wait. The meats were inconsistently cooked. You can get a real surprise by asking the owner about the closed shack at the back of the property. The condiments aren't brought over to the table, rather, they remain on the counter for you lazy bastards to get up and fix your tacos to your liking. There is no table service whatsoever. I would imagine a tip is not needed. Corona Tacos does a great job of making you feel as if you are in Mexico, which is not always a good thing. It would be at least a month before returning here, but if you are low on funds or completely drunk, it isn't too bad of a choice.

Overall Grade

Corona Tacos earns itself a 2.5. Not a must visit, but not a total avoider.