A Waltham Favorite Mexican Restaurant Lands on Yelp’s “Top 100 US Restaurants 2023,” AGAIN

Author Melissa

December 5th, 2023 7:29 AM

Tacos from Taqueria El Amigo

Earlier this year, I had a chance to try a Mexican restaurant I’d kept hearing about in Waltham called Taqueria El Amigo. The funny thing about this restaurant is, I would walk by it everyday on my walks but never tried it. It looks like a hole in the wall BUT I would always notice there would be a line of people waiting for their food. So after finding out the restaurant made it onto Yelp’s Top 100 Restaurants of 2022, I decided to try it. When I tell you, as soon as I tried it I was sad that I hadn’t tried it sooner. The food was unbelievable! That being said, I want to be the first to congratulate the good people at Taqueria El Amigo for once again making Yelp’s list of the Top 100 Restaurants of 2023!

It is a family owned and run business and they’ve been serving food out of this hole in the wall on Willow street for years. Last year, they landed at #60 on the list. This year, they dropped to 84 but just being on this list is prestigious enough. Last year, it was the ONLY New England restaurant to make it. Its Yelp rating is 4.6 out of 5 and there are several 5 star reviews. Personally, my go to is the chicken soft tacos. the flavor is absolutely spectacular. You just have to try them for yourself.

Check out my pictures and review from when I went to Taqueria El Amigo earlier this year.

A 20 year radio veteran in the Boston market, Melissa has made notable media appearances including serving as a judge and correspondent on the Emmy Award-winning TV show Community Auditions, Phantom Gourmet, Chronicle and many more. Additionally, Melissa won a Gracie Award in 2019 for her tremendous success in radio. She is also a cheerleading coach at Pro Athletics All Stars and for the Taunton Pop Warner program. Melissa likes to write about trending celebrity topics, personal stories, and Boston-area features.

This Can't-Miss Massachusetts Mexican Restaurant Earned a Spot on Yelp's Top-100

Yelp has released its list of the “Top 100 Places to Eat” in America and there is a hidden gem on the list, right here in Massachusetts. In fact, it’s right here in Waltham! It’s called Taqueria El Amigo and I just so happened to discover it during one of my daily walks. From the outside, it’s a very modest building and very small. You would never know that through its doors is a Mexican restaurant that people drive miles to eat at. I tried it for the first time in March when I ordered 4 chicken tacos. The tacos are made with the most delicious soft corn tortillas and the chicken is shredded with the most delicious seasoning. Once I ate these tacos from heaven, I knew I needed to go back. It was only then that I noticed the prestigious ranking on Yelp’s Top 100 list. Because of this, I noticed that this mostly takeout restaurant had lines out the door on any given day of the week. Tuesday at 2pm, there’s a line. Monday at 10:30am, there’s a line. The secret is now out and Taqueria El Amigo is a (no longer) hidden gem right here in Waltham.

On Saturday (April 29) I went with a group of friends and grabbed one of the 5 tables available restaurant. Most tables only seat 2 people but this table sat 4. My friends Jamie, Nancy Jo, friend Armani (Forking With Armani on IG) and his husband Nic arrived around 12:30pm and were thrilled to find a table was available. We ordered several of their most popular dishes and our entire meal was to die for. Armani actually travels from restaurant to restaurant giving us his reviews and takes us inside with his moving photos and videos. He captured our lunch in such a memorable way and I wanted to share with you our experience.

Taqueria El Amigo is located on 196 Willow Street Waltham
From the outside, you’d never know that inside its doors lies some of the best Mexican food you’ll ever eat in your life.
Inside, it's extremely small but decorative
There are only 5 to 6 tables with 3 seats on the side so people can sit and wait for their take out.
The menu
As you can see, the food is plentiful and very affordable
They absolutely have a kids menu
There’s something for the kiddos including mini tacos, quesadillas and burritos

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They even have breakfast!
Breakfast options include eggs with green sauce and tortillas, breakfast burritos and Mexican sausage
Armani ordered one of each type of taco
Armani ordered the chicken, beef, tongue, pork, pork and chili, cheek and Mexican sausage tacos. One of each on the menu. They come with corn tortillas, avocado, lime, cilantro and hot sauce and sour cream on the side if you ask for it.
Nic ordered the chicken enchiladas
Topped with lettuce, salsa, avodaco, you get three enchiladas served with beans and rice with your choice of sauce.
Melissa and Jamie ordered the chicken tacos
These tacos are AMAZING! I don’t even know what they season them with but OMG they are spectacular. I order sour cream on the side and they also bring you hot sauce. Avocado comes with it.
Melissa also ordered the carne asada
The carne asada came with big pieces of steak sauteed and served with salad, rice and beans.
The chips and salsa and guacamole
AMAZING fresh guacamole is offered at a small extra fee. Chips and salsa if ordered inside the restaurant is only $1.50. The chips come out warm and delicious.
Armani ordered Tamarindo
They have sodas, Mexican sodas, Tamarindo which is a sweet sour fruit that grows in pods and made into a delicious drink on this occasion. It was very tasty.
Yes, they have mouth watering desserts
Armani was obsessed with the tres leches cake! It was described as a “three milk cake” and so soft and mouth watering. It literally melted in your mouth.
Melissa and Armani
It’s always nice going to eat with a food blogger. Check out Armani’s IG page for more suggestions of must have places to eat in and around Boston.
The owner Omar Timoteo and us! He and his brothers have owned this restaurant for years
We met Omar who was very gracious and hospitable. He explained that he and his brothers Julio, Jhonathan and Carlos Daniel have owned it for years and yes they are looking to expand very soon. HOWEVER, they understand expansion can sometimes be bad so they will NOT stop specializing in take out and won’t be getting TOO big.