Chando’s Tacos: A Tango for the Taste Buds

Sacramento’s favorite taqueria shop opens in Roseville

Karl Danielsen and Garret Gebhardt|August 28, 2015

Chando’s Tacos

943 Pleasant Grove Blvd, Roseville, CA 95678.

Over the past few years, Chipotle has come to represent a lot of what Californians love about Mexican food. It’s not formal, it comes fast, it’s convenient, and most importantly, it’s delicious. While Chipotle excels at two things, there’s a lot more to over the border cuisine than just burritos and bowls.

Those were the thoughts that brought the two of us to Chando’s Tacos. Located on 943 Pleasant Grove Blvd in Roseville, the taqueria is two blocks from Chipotle and across the street from Chick-fil-a. We didn’t compare it to Chipotle by mistake, step inside and sit a while. You’ll probably be getting a lot of the same vibes.

Both restaurants have their own niche. In Chipotle’s case, it’s burritos, but at Chandos, it’s tacos. Selections of meat range from the typical “asada” and “carnitas” to more adventurous options like cow’s tongue. Save that for your later visits– our suggestion is to jump for the carnitas, they’re some of the best we’ve ever had.

Another page out of Chipotle’s book elevates the menu here. High-quality, local ingredients are the norm, and it really shows in the food. The food here is some of the best you’ll find in Rocklin and Roseville. With their tacos street-style and relatively simple, you can expect a small corn tortilla with lettuce, guacamole and– the real star of the show– your choice of a juicy protein.

The place isn’t just Chipotle for tacos, though. It has it’s own personality. Inside, the colors are brighter, with reds and blacks and yellows interspersed with pictures of food and smiling families covering the walls. A pandora station quietly plays Mexican pop in the background as you wait.

Before you visit Chando’s though, there are a few things worth mentioning. First, like at Chipotle chips cost extra. They’re “meh” at best, but the pico de gallo they come with is stellar, whether or not you want to order them depends on how much you like fresh tomatoes and salsas. Portions are also a little small, the typical “combo” is three street style tacos and a soda, which is enough to fill you up, but believe us when we say that if it’s mealtime and you’re hungry, you’ll want to go order another one. Most items cost around seven dollars with a soda, which is definitely reasonable.